Kobani

11 Stories

Father Brings 'Precious' Drowned Sons Home

Turkish lawmakers accompany him across border

(Newser) - The Syrian man who survived a capsizing during a desperate voyage from Turkey to Greece has taken the bodies of his wife and two sons back to the Syrian Kurdish region they fled, to bury them in their hometown of Kobani. The haunting image of the man's 3-year-old son...

Turkish Troops Enter Syria to Evacuate Tomb

Operation shifted ancient remains of Ottoman leader

(Newser) - Hundreds of Turkish troops backed by tanks took part in an overnight operation into neighboring Syria to evacuate dozens of besieged soldiers guarding an Ottoman tomb and remove the remains amid fears the shrine was threatened by ISIS militants. The mission to the tomb of the grandfather of the founder...

Kurds Rejoice as ISIS Pushed Out of Kobani

US-backed fighters declare victory in key border town

(Newser) - Jubilant Kurdish fighters ousted ISIS militants from the key Syrian border town of Kobani yesterday after a 4-month battle—a significant victory for both the Kurds and the US-led coalition. The Kurds raised their flag on a hill that once flew the group's black banner. On Kobani's war-ravaged...

Why the Fight for Kobani Matters

 Why the Fight 
 for Kobani 
 Matters 
OPINION
Oct 24, 2014 11:15 AM CDT

Why the Fight for Kobani Matters

Battle over Syrian town emerges as test of US policy: 'New York Times'

(Newser) - It's a safe bet that most Americans had never heard of the town of Kobani , Syria, a few weeks ago. Now, however, a common school of thought seems to be, "As Kobani goes, so goes the war on ISIS." In an editorial today, the New York Times...

Pentagon: ISIS Did Seize Bundle of US Weapons

Kurds say tide is turning in fight for Kobani

(Newser) - The US has indeed accidentally armed ISIS militants. A video uploaded by the militants appeared to show them rifling through grenades and other items from a supply drop intended for Kurdish fighters defending Kobani; the AP reports that the Pentagon has today confirmed ISIS got a bundle. Of the 28...

US Drops Weapons to Besieged Kurds

Syria supply drop expected to anger Turkey

(Newser) - The US military says it has airdropped weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies to Kurdish forces defending the Syrian city of Kobani against ISIS militants. The airdrops yesterday were the first of their kind and followed weeks of US and coalition airstrikes in and near Kobani, near the Turkish border. US...

ISIS' New Foe: Dutch Biker Gang?
ISIS' New Foe:
Dutch Biker Gang?
Oct 15, 2014 5:29 AM CDT

ISIS' New Foe: Dutch Biker Gang?

Netherlands says it's OK for bikers to join fight

(Newser) - The notorious Dutch biker gang No Surrender appears to be the newest member of the coalition fighting ISIS. At least three members of the gang are believed to be fighting with Kurds in northern Iraq, and authorities in the Netherlands say they haven't got a problem with that. "...

Turkey Will Let US Use Its Bases to Fight ISIS

As fighting continues in Kobani

(Newser) - Turkey will let US and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, American defense officials said yesterday. But progress in negotiations with Turkey—including Ankara's agreement to train several thousand...

UN: ISIS Atrocities Loom in Besieged Border Town

World must act now to save Kobani, envoy warns

(Newser) - The world has seen the "massacres, humanitarian tragedies, rapes, horrific violence," and other atrocities that unfold when ISIS seizes a town—and it needs to act now to stop the same happening in the Syrian border city of Kobani , a UN official warns. The UN special envoy for...

Latest ISIS Weapon: Hijacking Iraq's Water
 ISIS' New Weapon: Water 
Oct 7, 2014 5:30 PM CDT

ISIS' New Weapon: Water

Insurgents commandeering precious commodity to strengthen position

(Newser) - Even when ISIS militants can't maintain control of Iraq's cities and villages, they have another weapon at their disposal: water. The insurgents are increasingly cutting off water to villagers, extorting local governments, and flooding homes, schools, and farms in an effort to gain the upper hand by usurping...

Fears Mount That Key Border Town Will Fall to ISIS

Turkey's president says as much

(Newser) - The Syrian border city of Kobani continues to grab headlines today, with reports placing ISIS closer than ever to the heart of the city, which remains in Kurdish hands. The Wall Street Journal reports that ISIS yesterday managed to raise two of its black flags in the city's outskirts....

11 Stories