ISIS has
posted a chilling online video showing its fighters advancing towards
the centre of a key Syrian town on the Turkish border.
The
amateur footage, posted on social media, purports to show ISIS fighters
in control of the strategic Mashta Nour hill, which overlooks the town
of Kobane.
The
video comes after questions have been raised over whether airstrikes
will be enough to defeat Islamic State militants after Turkey's prime
minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the town will fall within hours
without extra ground support.
One of the fighters claims that thanks
to the help of God, they have taken over hill, and that fighters will
crawl towards the city
The ISIS fighters say they are ready to 'liberate' Kobane from the 'infidels' despite the airstrikes
ISIS fighters raise up their weapons
as they walk across the hill overlooking the city of Kobane, which they
have said nothing will stop them from capturing
In the footage, one ISIS fighter says that with the help of god, they have taken over the hill, which overlooks the city.
He
adds that the 'soldiers of Islam' are now 'crawling towards the city'
and that they will destroy the infidels and take the city, despite the
airstrikes.
He finishes by declaring the airstrikes will not stop them and that they will 'take the city.'
The
new footage comes amid growing evidence that Western efforts are having
little impact on ISIS - who have continued to take vast swathes of
territory in since American airstrikes started in Iraq in August and a
U.S./Arab coalition began bombing targets in Syria two weeks ago.
Sources
on the ground say the terrorists have been able to easily avoid the
airstrikes by operating from bases inside civilian buildings, and also
by simply melting away into small groups whenever aircraft are overhead
before re-emerging as a fighting force once the planes leave.
With
ISIS continuing to take ground in both Iraq and Syria - including the
possible capture of the strategically and symbolically important city of
Kobane - Western airstrikes appear to be doing little to bring the
militant group's reign of terror to an end.
Hit: A picture taken from inside
Turkey shows smoke rising over the Syrian city of Kobane following this
morning's airstrikes against ISIS militants. The terrorists have been
besieging the city for the last three weeks
Blast: The U.S.
led anti-ISIS coalition carried out this morning's airstrikes in Kobane.
The attacks targeted ISIS militants who have advanced into the city,
which is located right on northern Syria's border with Turkey
Kurdish
fighters in Kobane were among the first to suggest airstrikes would not
be enough, with Idris Nassan, a senior spokesman, telling the Guardian:
'They are besieging the city on three sides, and fighter jets simply
cannot hit each and every ISIS fighter on the ground.'
And
Britain's former Chief of the Defence Staff General Lord David Richards
has also warned that political leaders appear to have underestimated
the scale of the task they face, and that the crisis is likely to
require Western boots on the ground to make any real headway.
'Air
power alone will not win a campaign like this. It isn't actually a
counter-terrorist operation. This is a conventional enemy in that it has
armour, tanks, artillery, it is quite wealthy, it holds ground and it
is going to fight. So therefore you have to view it as a conventional
military campaign,' he told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.
Strike: This
morning journalists on the Turkish side of the border heard the sound of
planes before two large plumes of smoke billowed just west of Kobane
(pictured here and in the below image)
Claim: Despite promising not to let it
happen just days ago, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
(pictured) this morning said the fall of the city is imminent, adding
that airstrikes will not be enough to stop ISIS
'You
either have to put your own boots on the ground at some point, or else
you have to very energetically and aggressively train up those who will
do that with us and for us. My worry at the moment is that the scale of
the challenge isn't being met by the right scale of response,' he added.
Erdogan's
suggestion that Kobane is 'about to fall' comes after Kurdish
resistance forces vowed to fight ISIS to the death, saying they will do
their utmost to prevent the Islamist 'monsters' massacring the city's
40,000 civilians.
The
news comes as it was claimed up to 800 people may have been killed in
fighting in Kobane over the past three weeks, as ISIS battled the brave
Kurdish resistance and advanced in the city suburbs.
Fire: A building believed to have been
occupied by ISIS forces in the Kobane suburbs is seen burning following
airstrikes by a U.S. led coalition against the terror group this
morning
Threat: A black flag belonging to ISIS
was raised above a four-storey building in the Kobane suburbs
yesterday. This morning's airstrikes are said to have targeted this
streets around the building
This morning's airstrikes are said to
have targeted the streets surrounding the building over which jihadist
flag was raised, according to Al Aan TV reporter Jenan Moussa
Smoke
was seen coming from positions immediately behind the four-storey
building this morning, with reporters stationed across the border in
Turkey saying heavily armed police there had ordered people to stay
indoors while the strikes take place.
Street
fighting raged between Kurdish forces and ISIS fanatics yesterday,
after the terror group advanced into the suburbs of Kobane.
The
head of the Kurdish forces defending Kobane said late yesterday that
ISIS forces were 300 metres inside the eastern district and were
shelling the remaining neighbourhoods.
'We either die or win. No fighter is leaving,' Esmat al-Sheikh, leader of the Kobane Defence Authority, said.
'The
world is watching, just watching and leaving these monsters to kill
everyone, even children...but we will fight to the end with what weapons
we have.'
ISIS
wants to take Kobane to consolidate a dramatic sweep across northern
Iraq and Syria, in the name of an absolutist version of Sunni Islam,
that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East.
At
least 400 people are known to have died in ISIS' three-week bombardment
of Kobane, according the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a group
monitoring violence in Syria.
The
organisation explained it had documented 412 deaths from sources on the
ground - including fighters on both sides of the conflict - but said
the real figure was likely to be more than 800 dead.
An image taken from Turkey, which shows the Islamic State flag being flown by militants in the east of the Syrian city of Kobane
Targets: The US-led coalition has
launched several airstrikes over the past two weeks near Kobani in a bid
to help Kurdish forces defend the town, but the sorties appear to have
done little to slow Islamic State, which captured several nearby
villages in a rapid advance that began in mid-September
Capturing the moment: Men standing on
the Turkish side of the border take photographs as U.S.-led airstrikes
against ISIS militants take place behind them in the besieged Syrian
city of Kobane
Spectators: Turkish men watch as an airstrike destroys a building in Kobane thought to have been held by ISIS
Looking on: Men in the Suruc district
of Sanliurfa in Turkey watch as Islamic State militants in neighbouring
Kobane, Syria are targeted by U.S. led airstrikes
Document: A Turkish man takes a photograph as smoke rises from an building across the border in Kobane
Turkish people stand and look on as clashes between ISIS and Kurdish armed forces continue in Kobane today
Kurdish people watch as air strikes rain down on the city of Kobane in Syria
KURDISH FIGHTER DEILAR KANJI KHAMIS BECOMES FIRST FEMALE TO CARRY OUT SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS
Death: Deilar Kanj Khamis, known by
the nom de guerre Arin Mirkan, blew herself up at an IS position east of
the border town, killing ten jihadists
A female Kurdish fighter carried out a suicide bomb attack against advancing Islamic State militants, it has emerged.
Deilar
Kanj Khamis, known by her military name Arin Mirkan, blew herself up at
an IS position east of the border town of Kobane, killing ten
jihadists.
It was the first known case of a female Kurdish fighter carrying out a suicide bomb attack against ISIS.
As Kurdish fighters withdrew from a position on the strategic hill of Mistenur, above the city, Khamis stayed behind.
In
a desperate attempt to stop them advancing, she attacked IS fighters
with gunfire and grenades and then eventually blew herself up, according
to a defence official in Syria's Kurdish region.
She
was among 15 fighters who 'martyred' themselves after facing jihadists,
'with all their strength', it was reported in a statement.
According to sources, she was a mother with two children, though this was unconfirmed.
While
there is little else known about Mirkan, she was a member of the
Women's Protection Unit, a branch of the Peoples Protection Units. The
force has more than 10,000 female fighters who played a major role in
the battles against IS.
Yesterday
the force suggested all of their fighters would martyr themselves if it
meant defeating IS and protecting the pivotal border town.
Deilar Kanj
Khamis. It was the first known case of a female Kurdish fighter carrying
out a suicide bomb against IS. According to tributes on Twitter, she
was a mother with two children
Strikes
by American and Gulf state warplanes have failed to halt Islamic
State's advance on the town, which it has besieged from three sides and
pounded with heavy artillery.
Forced
to flee Kobane by the fighting yesterday, frightened residents crossed
into Turkey through Yumurtalik, an improvised border crossing, and
ambulances with blaring sirens shuttled back and forth between the
Syrian town and Turkey.
'We
can hear the sound of clashes on the street,' Parwer Ali Mohamed, a
translator for the Kurdish Democratic Union Party said as he fled. 'More
than 2,000 people including women and children are being evacuated.
Turkish police are checking our luggage now.'
A
black flag belonging to Islamic State was visible from across the
Turkish border atop a four-storey building close to the scene of some of
the fiercest clashes in recent days.
This
morning's airstrikes are said to have targeted the streets surrounding
the building over which jihadist flag was raised, according to Al Aan TV
reporter Jenan Moussa.
Occasional
gunfire can still be heard in the city - which is also known as Ayn
Arab. A flag of the Kurdish force known as the People's Protection Units
(YPG) is flying over a hill in the city centre.
Ready for action: Turkish soldiers patrol the Turkey-Syria border overlooking Kobane this morning
On guard: Soldiers and heavily armed
police officers (pictured her and in the below image) over the border in
Turkey ordered locals to stay indoors while the airstrikes took place
this morning
Clashes: Military police battle with
Kurdish demonstrators during an anti-Islamic State protest near
Sanliurfa in southern Turkey today
Tear gas: The anti-Islamic State protests took place near Sanliurfa in southern Turkey earlier this morning
Turkish youths clash with government forces during an anti-ISIS protest close to the border with Syria today
A young boy shouts as Turkish army soldiers try to remove Kurdish people from the Turkish-Syrian border near to Kobane
Surrounded: Street fighting raged
between Kurdish forces and ISIS fanatics yesterday, after the terror
group advanced into the suburbs of Kobane
Mortars
have rained down on residential areas of Kobane, and stray fire has hit
Turkish territory frequently in recent days wounding people and
damaging houses.
Islamic
State also fought intense battles over the weekend for control of
Mistanour, a strategic hill overlooking Kobani. A video released by the
group on Sunday appeared to show its fighters in control of radio masts
on the summit, but the footage could not be independently confirmed.
Turkey's
pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party called for street demonstrations
in Turkey to protest at Islamic State's assault on Kobani, where the
situation was 'extremely critical'.
Militants
also carried out two suicide attacks in the northeastern Syrian city of
Hasakah, the Observatory said, killing at least 30 people.
'The
attacks targeted checkpoints run by Kurdish fighters on the western
entrance of the city. They occurred within minutes of each other,'
Abdelrahman said.
Flames: Kurdish protesters angry at
the gains made by Islamic State terrorists in Syria clashed with Turkish
riot police in the southern city of Diyarbakir today
Anger: A Turkish protester covers his
face as police use tear gas to disperse a crowd during furious anti-ISIS
demonstrations in Diyarbakir earlier today
Rage: Crowds in Diyarbakir, southern Turkey throw rocks and bottles at police during a protest against ISIS
Meanwhile in Istanbul anti-ISIS demonstrations also descended into clashes between protesters and the police
Disperse: Turkish police use water cannon during angry protests against the Islamic State in Istanbul today
An anti-ISIS protester dons a gas mask and carries glass bottles during tense demonstrations in Istanbul today
TURKEY DEMANDS U.S. ATTACK SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD AS A CONDITION FOR SUPPORT IN FIGHTING AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS
Turkey
has demanded the U.S. carry out military action against Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad a a condition for further Turkish support in
fighting against Islamic State militants.
Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that a no-fly zone must immediately be
put in place over Syria to protect the Turkish border from both the
threat of attack, as well as millions of Syrian refugees who have poured
into the country during three years of intense fighting.
In
order to put a no-fly zone in place, however, the U.S. would need to
conduct targeted strikes on Assad's air defences, as well as provide
additional support for millions of potential refugees.
'We want to have a no-fly zone, we want to have a safe have on our border,' Mr Davutoglu told CNN News.
Turkey is reluctant to assist Kurdish
fighters because they are affiliated with the banned Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) - a group recently described as 'the same as ISIS' by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured)
'Otherwise
all these burdens will continue to go on the shoulder of Turkey and
other neighbouring countries,' he said, referring to the refugee
crisis.
'We
are ready to do everything if there is a clear strategy that, after
ISIS, we can be sure our border is protected,' Mr Davutoglu went on to
say.
Turkey
has been criticised for an apparent lack of effort in targeting ISIS in
neighbouring Syria and Iraq, although talks will take place next week
to discuss the country's contribution to the U.S./Arab coalition
currently carrying out airstrikes on the terror group.
Turkey
has been reluctant to assist Syrian Kurdish fighters battling against
ISIS because they are affiliated with the banned Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) - a group recently described as 'the same as ISIS' by
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey
has also been accused of 'doing deals' with ISIS, agreeing to allow up
to 180 detained militants - including British-born jihadists - to rejoin
the group, in return for the release of 46 Turkish citizens and three
local Iraqi staff captured in the city of Mosul five months ago. DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
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