US Sends Lethal Aid to Kurdish Forces Fighting ISIL in Kobane
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Pentagon has publicly acknowledged an air-drop of lethal aid to Kurdish rebels fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in the pivotal Syrian-Turkish border town of Kobane, shortly after news of considerable gains made against the terrorists there.
The Sunday delivery, which also contained other supplies, comes on the heels of renewed US airstrikes on Syria and Iraq’s oil infrastructure in a bid to cripple the terrorist group’s hold on it. Eleven of the strikes were on the Kobane area overnight, RT reported.
A brief statement by US Central Command said US Air Force C-130 aircraft “delivered weapons, ammunition and medical supplies that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against ISIL’s attempts to overtake Kobane.”
A total of 27 drops with supplies were delivered, another official stated. The aircraft left the Syrian air space following the operation.
On the Kurdish side, a spokesman acknowledged delivery of large quantities of ammunition, weapons and medical aid on Monday. The announcement followed another brief statement that “good news” would soon be released.
The spokesman may have been referring to recent gains made by Kurdish forces against the ISIL militants, who have reportedly been retreating from Kobane. The latest from the forces on the ground was that a cleanup operation is underway, but parts of this crucial border town remain occupied by sporadic terrorists and suicide bombers.
"Combined with continued resistance to ISIL on the ground, indications are that these strikes have slowed ISIL advances into the city, killed hundreds of their fighters and destroyed or damaged scores of pieces of ISIL combat equipment and fighting positions," Central Command also said.
US forces have carried out 135 air strikes in recent days. “However, the security situation remains fragile as ISIL continues to threaten the city and Kurdish forces continue to resist,” the statement also said.
The airstrike campaign on Iraqi targets began in August, with Syria following a month later.
One official, according to AP, said “you might see more” of such missions in the coming days, as the Kurds rid Kobane of terrorists.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has meanwhile vehemently opposed American military aid to Kurdish fighters – which Turkey sees as terrorists.
"The PYD is for us, equal to the PKK. It is a terror organization," Erdogan told reporters on a trip to Afghanistan on Saturday.
"It would be wrong for the United States – with whom we are friends and allies in NATO – to talk openly and to expect us to say 'yes' to such a support to a terrorist organization," Erdogan said.
In spite of the remarks, President Obama did give an advance warning to the Turkish leader over the phone to give a heads-up on the arms supplies prior to the start. Erdogan’s reaction to this was not immediately available.
