Turkish Kurds seek better weapons

MURSITPINAR, Turkey – In its battle for the Syrian town of Kobani, the Islamic State group enjoys a key advantage: a supply of weapons, ammunition and fighters shuttling between Syria and Iraq.

The town’s Syrian Kurdish defenders, while backed by airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition, are outnumbered, poorly armed and squeezed against the unwelcoming Turkish border. Reflecting growing desperation despite their success so far in holding out, Syrian Kurdish officials are increasing their appeals to better arm the defenders of the strategic frontier town.

“From the start, we said the coalition’s airstrikes will not be able to save Kobani or to defeat Daesh in the area,” said Idriss Nassan, deputy head of Kobani’s foreign relations committee, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

“We call upon the international community to open a humanitarian safe passage to allow in food, medicine, and weapons supplies,” Nassan told the Associated Press.

It’s unclear what friendly countries could do. Weapons for Kurdish fighters would have to cross through Turkey – a request the Ankara government is likely to rebuff.

The Islamic State group launched its Kobani offensive in mid-September, capturing dozens of nearby Kurdish villages and a third of the town in lightning advances that sent waves of civilians fleeing over the border into Turkey.

Bolstered by the intensified air campaign targeting the Islamic State group, Kurdish militiamen were able to regain some of the positions they lost in recent days. The U.S. Central Command said Thursday it most recently launched 14 airstrikes on Islamic State group targets near Kobani, hitting 19 buildings and two command posts, as well as fighting and sniper positions, and a heavy machine gun.

But the Kurds fear their luck will run out without heavier weapons and more fighters to back their cause. About 3,000 to 4,000 Kurds are fighting to block the Sunni militant group from seizing Kobani, according to estimates from different Kurdish fighters.

U.S. Rear Adm. John Kirby said Wednesday there is no resupply mission into Kobani that he is aware of. “We’re doing what we can from the air to try to support them in their effort to defend the city system,” the Pentagon spokesman said.