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flamingdem

(39,303 posts)
Wed Oct 15, 2014, 11:18 PM Oct 2014

Islamic State 'retreating' in key Syria town of Kobane [View all]

Source: BBC

Islamic State militants are retreating in parts of the strategic Syrian town of Kobane, a Kurdish official has said.

Idriss Nassan told the BBC IS had lost control of more than 20% of the town in recent days.
US defence officials say hundreds of militants have been killed around Kobane as US-led air strikes intensify.

The news came as US President Barack Obama and European leaders agreed on the need to do more to stop the IS advance in Iraq and Syria.

In a video conference, Mr Obama and the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Italy agreed to step up support for an "inclusive political approach" in Iraq and training for local forces in Iraq and Syria, a statement by UK Prime Minister David Cameron's office said.

'Cleaning operations'
Mr Nassan said Kurdish YPG forces in Kobane were making progress against IS.

"Maybe in the few past days [Islamic State] was controlling about 40% of the city of Kobane, but now... less than 20% of the city is under control of [IS]...," he said.

"Today YPG started cleaning operations in the east and south-east of Kobane."

US defence department spokesman John Kirby said "several hundred" militants had been killed in and around the besieged town, though "it could very well still fall" to IS.


Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29629357



The Iraqis are complaining that they lack air cover now because planes have been sent to Kobani.

Lesson? Invest in the Kurds. Don't let them down even if Kobani is symbolic they have shown their value as fighters and allies. Let Erdogan squirm and the Iraqi army get on the case.
83 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I've said for years we should back an independent Kurdistan and drop our other regional clients Recursion Oct 2014 #1
I Certainly Agree Establishing A Sovereign Kurdistan Is A Proper Course, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #2
Unless Iraq agreed to the partition, it risks creating another Kosovo precedent... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #6
Kurdistan Is Already Effectively 'Partitioned' From Baghdad, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #14
and Russia has been the de facto sovereign power in Crimea shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #23
I Have No Interest In Sidetracks, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #24
Hardly a sidetrack... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #29
Of Course It Is A Sidetrack, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #35
It would just be correcting a mistake made in Paris in 1919. Leontius Oct 2014 #75
I agree Mag. A de facto recognition of the regional realities in a way. And come what may. pinto Oct 2014 #17
It's what Joe Biden suggested leftynyc Oct 2014 #25
Thank You, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #83
Independent Kurdistan where? Comrade Grumpy Oct 2014 #18
But, isn't that exactly what PNAC wanted? Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #21
PNAC also breathes oxygen Recursion Oct 2014 #27
They are smart, they have integrity and they are good people. I agree with you. nt MADem Oct 2014 #26
All of them? candelista Oct 2014 #60
One would have to wonder why it would "strike" you in such a negative way. MADem Oct 2014 #76
Because all generalizations about cultures are idiotic. candelista Oct 2014 #77
I'll consider the source, thanks anyway. nt MADem Oct 2014 #81
It's not just the Kurdish YPG forces that driving them back. It ballyhoo Oct 2014 #3
And that would be? blackspade Oct 2014 #4
Hezbollah.......The article is below. ballyhoo Oct 2014 #5
How about that flamingdem Oct 2014 #9
Hard to keep track of... Nashrallah is a military ballyhoo Oct 2014 #11
There is no practical necessity for direct relations between them shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #30
I know that, but "direct" and working together because ballyhoo Oct 2014 #34
You ignore that being against the same group, does NOT mean they are working together karynnj Oct 2014 #57
Nor does that mean the obverse. "deconflict"...oh, God.... ballyhoo Oct 2014 #59
You said they are working together - I said you did not PROVE that karynnj Oct 2014 #63
"may have made a surprising deal with the west". ballyhoo Oct 2014 #65
As A Question Of Basic English, Sir, 'May Have' Does Not Mean 'Has Done' The Magistrate Oct 2014 #68
You have presented NOTHING showing they are working together - why smear Biden? karynnj Oct 2014 #54
Is your opinion. Fine. Everyone can draw their ballyhoo Oct 2014 #61
You Know, Sir, An Elementary Knowledge Of Geography Often Aids Understanding The Magistrate Oct 2014 #10
Nicely stated --- Newsweek"s title is ridiculous and clearly aimed to just get hits karynnj Oct 2014 #52
Holy crap. blackspade Oct 2014 #16
I haven't seen any evidence that Hezbollah has a presence in Kobani. Do you have any? Comrade Grumpy Oct 2014 #20
Nor, Comrade, Has The Article Any Mention Of Hezbollah Fighting With Kurds On The Turkish Border The Magistrate Oct 2014 #28
Nothing more than I've presented and similar ballyhoo Oct 2014 #33
And Again, Sir, You Fail To Read Past Headlines, And So Cite Things Which Do Not Say What You Claim The Magistrate Oct 2014 #36
Newsweak is not a good source, and that story is mostly a rehash (as one would expect from Newsweak) bemildred Oct 2014 #37
Thank You For The Lnk, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #38
I do too Sir. bemildred Oct 2014 #40
Bob Knows a Man Needs Slack, Sir.... The Magistrate Oct 2014 #42
I agree with most of what you said; however, ballyhoo Oct 2014 #39
Hezbollah is most definitely fighting ISIS, the question is where? nt bemildred Oct 2014 #41
Lebanon and on the Turkish border... ballyhoo Oct 2014 #45
I think I heard of that guy getting killed. bemildred Oct 2014 #48
Yes, he was killed in a clash with Turkish Police Forces. Oh, ISIS ballyhoo Oct 2014 #50
It Is An Interesting Little Splinter, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #55
I know almost nothing about it. bemildred Oct 2014 #69
They Have Been Quiescent For Some Time, Sir The Magistrate Oct 2014 #70
It's good to know that the government takes a firm hand with that sort of thing, Sir. bemildred Oct 2014 #71
When You Sign a Contract, Sir, You Have To Keep Up The Payments.... The Magistrate Oct 2014 #72
Well, you're supposed to stay bought. bemildred Oct 2014 #73
Give It A Rest, Sir, Seriously The Magistrate Oct 2014 #49
Your Problem, Mr. Ballyhoo, Is Citing Hate Sites And Making Clear Expressions Of Bigotry The Magistrate Oct 2014 #43
Holy crap!!!!! GGJohn Oct 2014 #47
The title of the article distorts the more complication situation that the article speaks of karynnj Oct 2014 #44
Yep. I think you understand. I'm right now ballyhoo Oct 2014 #46
In earlier articles, writers have noted the similarly named group is unrelated to the Shiite group karynnj Oct 2014 #51
Factionalism Has Always Been the Curse Of The Kurds, Ma'am The Magistrate Oct 2014 #56
Right. You explained it well. And looking broadly at your ballyhoo Oct 2014 #58
Make Up Your Mind, Fella The Magistrate Oct 2014 #62
You missed that what Obama is doing is OPPOSED to the neocons karynnj Oct 2014 #64
They shouldn't be in the region period. And my further position ballyhoo Oct 2014 #66
For Him, Ma'am, as With the Old Lady And The Turtles, It Is Neo-Cons All the Way Down The Magistrate Oct 2014 #67
For those who use Twitter, I found an excellent link on TOD today on this. A guy who is there: freshwest Oct 2014 #7
Yes, and Isis is taking lots of casualties flamingdem Oct 2014 #8
What!? Good news.. thanks, flamingdem Cha Oct 2014 #12
Rare good news Cha flamingdem Oct 2014 #13
Of course it is! Cha Oct 2014 #15
For you flamingdem.. Cha Oct 2014 #19
Cha comes through yet again. longship Oct 2014 #31
It warmed my heart, too, longship.. I want these Kurds to be safe. Cha Oct 2014 #32
Yay, the Kurds will win the propaganda war with this flamingdem Oct 2014 #74
I forgot to add this Tweet with the 2nd graphic.. Cha Oct 2014 #79
Here's a lesson to be learned ... Leave the Middle East MontyPow Oct 2014 #22
Did we also kill their second in command? yellowcanine Oct 2014 #53
US: Hundreds of ISIL fighters dead in Kobane muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #78
A Message of Thank you to the United States & Pres Obama for Supporting Kobane, flamingdem.. Cha Oct 2014 #80
The President's strategy is working. nilesobek Oct 2014 #82
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