Iraqi Peshmerga fighters ready to cross into Kobani

2014-10-30 1

Iraqi Peshmerga fighters were preparing to cross into the Syrian town of Kobani on Friday (October 30). Their journey would take them from Turkey with the aim of helping fellow Kurds break a siege by Islamic State militants.

Another group of Iraqi Kurds with further artillery weapons were also en route to the area.

An unknown number of fighters have already entered the town.

Their arrival comes after a group of Syrian Arab rebels reached Kobani on Wednesday to help in the fight against ISIL.

Nizar al Khateeb, a commander in the Free Syrian Army said:

“We’ve received weapons from neighbouring countries. Up until now we were using light weapons.”

US fighters have carried out at least ten airstrikes on Kobani since Wednesday (October 29), according to military officials.

The United States and its allies in the coalition fighting ISIL have said they do not plan to fight in Syria or Iraq.

Activists have said the battle for Kobani has resulted in the deaths of 800 people and forced more than 200,000 to flee across the border into Turkey.