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             Ramped-up US-Led Airstrikes Stall IS Advance in Kobani

   by Reuters

   War jets flew over the Syrian town of Kobani on Saturday after days of
   heavy air strikes by U.S. warplanes, which slowed an advance by Islamic
   State militants against Kurdish forces defending the border town.

   The tempo of U.S.-led air strikes has increased dramatically, with a
   U.S. fighter craft launching six air strikes on Islamic State positions
   near Kobani on Friday, the U.S military said.
   More Islamic State targets were hit in the same area on Wednesday and
   Thursday after U.S. fighter and bomber planes carried out 14 raids
   against the militant group.
   Turkish and U.S. officials said last week that Islamic State was on the
   verge of taking Kobani from its heavily outgunned Kurdish defenders,
   after seizing strategic points deep inside the town.
   The four-week Islamic State assault has been seen as a test of U.S.
   President Barack Obama's air strike strategy, and Kurdish leaders say
   the town cannot survive without arms and ammunition reaching the
   defenders, something neighboring Turkey has so far refused to allow.
   Islamic State has been keen to take the town to consolidate
   its position in northern Syria after seizing large amounts of territory
   in the country and in Iraq. A defeat in Kobani would be a major setback
   for the Islamists and a boost for Obama.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-ramped-up-us-led-airstrikes-stall
   -is-advance-in-kobani/2488044.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-ramped-up-us-led-airstrikes-stall-is-advance-in-kobani/2488044.html