| Revision as of 10:31, 4 October 2014 editLegacypac (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers158,031 editsm Legacypac moved page Siege of Ayn al-Arab to Siege of Kobane/Ayn al-Arab/: stop the move warring - RS seem to use Kobane primarily, those the use Ayn al-Arab general qualify immediately with Kobane.← Previous edit | Revision as of 10:55, 4 October 2014 edit undoLegacypac (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers158,031 edits kill messed up pageNext edit → | ||
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| {{Infobox military conflict | |||
| |conflict= Siege of Ayn al-Arab/Kobanê | |||
| |partof= the ] | |||
| |image= | |||
| |caption= | |||
| |date= 16 September 2014 - ongoing<br>({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=09|day1=16|year1=2014}}) | |||
| |place= ], northern ] | |||
| |result= Ongoing | |||
| *ISIS captures 350 villages and towns in the Ayn al-Arab region and advances to within one kilometer from the town of Ayn al-Arab<ref name="75percent"/><ref name="organization"/><ref name="State_Closes"/><ref name="350_villages"/> | |||
| *Some 90 percent of residents of Ayn al-Arab and nearby villages have fled in Turkey.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| *PYD only controls the border town of Ayn al-Arab<ref name="75percent"/><ref name="State_Closes"/> | |||
| |combatant1= {{flagicon image|Ala kurdên rojava.svg}} ] | |||
| *{{flagicon image|People's Protection Units Flag.svg}} ] | |||
| *{{flagicon image|Flag_of_Kurdistan_Workers_Party_(PKK).svg}} ] | |||
| *{{flagicon image|Jabhat al-akrad logo.jpeg}} ] | |||
| {{flagicon|Syria|1932}} ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/video/2014/09/27/kurdish-fighters-and-free-syrian-army-cl?videoId=345217896&videoChannel=75| title=Kurdish fighters and Free Syrian Army clash with IS at strategic border town |publisher=Reuters|date=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| '''Supported by:''' | |||
| * {{flag|United States}}<small>(air strikes)</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/149751 |last1= |first1= |title=New U.S. Raids hit Jihadists Outside Syria Kurdish Town |publisher=Naharnet |accessdate=4 October 2014 | quote= }}</ref> | |||
| |combatant2={{flagicon image|ShababFlag.svg}} ] | |||
| |commander1= Ismet Sheikh Hassan<ref></ref> | |||
| |commander2= Unknown | |||
| |units1= | |||
| |units2= | |||
| |strength1= 1,500 fighters (reinforcements)<ref name="1,500_Kurdish"/> | |||
| |strength2= 4,000 fighters<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SlemaniTimes/status/514817544482332673|title=Slemani Times 1|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| |casualties1= 112 killed<ref>3 killed (16 September), 5 killed (17 September), 6 killed (18 September), 27 killed (19–21 September), 5 killed (22 September), 8 killed (24 September), 5 killed (27 September), 9 killed (29 September), 16 killed (30 September), 7 killed (1 October), 7 killed (2 October), 14 killed (3 October), total of 112 reported killed</ref> | |||
| |casualties2= 166–237 killed<ref>6 killed (16 September), 5 killed (18 September), 18 killed (19 September), 23 killed (20 September), 8 killed (21 September), 24 killed (22 September), 12 killed (24 September), 7–28 killed (26 September), 5 killed (27 September), 9–52 killed (28 September), 6 killed (29 September), 2 killed (30 September), 9 killed (1 October), 5 killed (1 October), 16 killed (2 October), 7 killed (3 October), total of 166–237 reported killed</ref> | |||
| |casualties3= 34 civilians killed<ref name=60000syrian/><br>160,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/over-160-000-syrian-refugees-flood-turkey-173222043.html|title=Over 160,000 Syrian refugees flood Turkey|date=26 September 2014|work=Yahoo News India|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref>–200,000<ref name="200,000">{{cite web|url=http://syriahr.com/en/2014/09/sohr-appeals-urgently-to-rescue-more-than-200000-displaced/|title=SOHR appeals urgently to rescue more than 200,000 displaced|publisher=SOHR|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref> civilians flee to Turkey | |||
| |notes = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War|state=collapsed}} | |||
| The '''Siege of Ayn al-Arab''' (] name) or '''Kobanê''' (in ]) was launched by the ] militants on September 16, 2014, in order to capture ]. As of October 2, the Islamic State succeeded in capturing 325 Kurdish inhabited villages and towns and creating a wave of some 200,000 displaced Kurds, with most of them fleeing into Turkey. | |||
| ==Offensive== | |||
| ===ISIS advance=== | |||
| On 17 September, following the capture of a strategic bridge over the Euphrates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/thousands-of-syrian-kurds-flee-islamic-state-fighters-into-turkey-1411151657|title=Thousands of Syrian Kurds Flee Islamic State Fighters Into Turkey|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> ISIS launched a large offensive using tanks, rockets and artillery in the direction of Kobanê and within 24 hours captured 21 Kurdish inhabited villages. The advance left Ayn al-Arab encircled by ISIS forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/islamic-state-fighters-seize-syrian-villages/2453910.html|title=In Major Assault, IS Fighters Seize Kurdish Villages in Syria|work=VOA|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 19 September, ISIS captured 39 more villages,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://q13fox.com/2014/09/19/syrian-kurds-warn-of-mounting-crisis-as-isis-advances-takes-more-villages/|title=Syrian Kurds warn of mounting crisis as ISIS advances, takes more villages|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> bringing their forces to within 20 kilometers of Ayn al-Arab.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/kurdish-leader-urges-world-to-protect-syrian-town-from-islamic-state/40789514|title=Kurdish leader urges world to protect Syrian town from Islamic State|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> 45,000 refugees crossed into Turkey, fearing an ISIS takeover of the region,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/newswires/2699412-turkish-deputy-pm-says-45000-syrian-kurds-enter-turkey-fleeing-islamic-state-advance/|title=45.000 Refugees|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> while a number of refugees was stopped at the border and ordered to return to Kobanê by Turkish authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/09/19/thousands-of-syrians-seek-refuge-from-isil-in-turkey/|title=Refugees Stopped at the border|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> The inhabitants of 100 villages were evacuated after coming under continuous shelling and dozens of civilians and YPG fighters were killed as the ISIS advance continued.<ref name=EUR>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/newswires/2697556-hundreds-of-syrian-kurds-fleeing-islamic-state-gather-on-turkish-border/|title=Euronews Report|accessdate=19 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 20 September, ISIS forces reached to within 15 kilometers of Ayn al-Arab<ref name=60000syrian>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/20/us-syria-crisis-turkey-kurds-idUSKBN0HF05I20140920|title=About 60,000 Syrian Kurds flee to Turkey as Islamic State advances|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> after capturing three more villages and started bombarding areas 10 kilometers from the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/syriahroe/posts/585460698228939|title=ISIS advance|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> Meanwhile, more than 300 Kurdish fighters reached Ayn al-Arab from Turkey as reinforcements.<ref name=60000syrian/> Senior PKK official Murat Karayilan appealed to the Kurdish youth in Turkey to join Kurdish forces in Syria. During the day, three rockets exploded within Ayn al-Arab, spreading fear among its inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/19092014|title=Kobane Shelled|accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> Since the start of the offensive, 34 civilians had been killed,<ref name=60000syrian/> while the number of refugees had reached 60,000.<ref name=60000syrian/> | |||
| As of 21 September, ISIS captured 64 villages, while 39 ISIS and 27 Kurdish fighters had been killed in the previous 48 hours.<ref name=displacement>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/index.php?option=com_news&nid=23831&Itemid=2&task=displaynews#.VB8s6_mSyyE|title=The displacement of more than 150 thousand citizens Kurd attack since the start of the Islamic State|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> Kurdish forces evacuated at least 100 villages on the Syrian side after ISIS militants started the onslaught against the Kurdish villages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/kurds-call-arms-after-isis-seizez-dozens-villages|title=Kurds call to arms after ISIS seizes dozens of villages|work=Al Akhbar English|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> ISIS troops reached to within 10 kilometers from the city and were continuing to advance<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/513593965426524160|title=Elijah J Magnier|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> with fighting concentrated on the southern and eastern suburbs of Ayn al-Arab, 13 kilometers from the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/security-clash-with-kurds-on-turkey-syria-border/2014/09/21/0ceeab0c-416c-11e4-8042-aaff1640082e_story.html|title=Syria refugee flood to Turkey hits 100,000|work=Washington Post|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 22 September, a Kurdish spokesman reported that the IS advance east of Ayn al-Arab had been halted during the previous night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Sep-22/271492-syrian-kurdish-fighters-halt-advance-by-isis-east-of-kobani-kurdish-forces-spokesman.ashx#axzz3DEnuDIKa|title=Syrian Kurdish fighters halt advance by ISIS east of Kobanē: Kurdish forces spokesman|publisher=The Daily Star|date=22 September 2014|accessdate=22 September 2014}}</ref> Despite this, ISIS forces shelled the center of the city and clashes continued in the vicinity of the village of Mojik (about 6 km west of Ayn al-Arab) and the village of Alishar (7 km east of the city).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/09/isis-militants-advance-syrian-kurdish-region/|title=ISIS militants advance in Syrian Kurdish region|work=ARA News|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> On the same day, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that more than 130,000 Syrian Kurds fled across the border into Turkey, escaping an advance by ISIS jihadists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Sep-22/271481-100000-syrian-kurds-have-fled-to-turkey-un.ashx#axzz3DwXZNAOv|title=More than 130,000 Syrian Kurds flee to Turkey|work=The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 24 September, ISIS forces made more advances south of the city despite air strikes against its supply lines by warplanes which reportedly came from the Turkish side of the border.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/syriahroe/posts/587105081397834|title=Aleppo province|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> This brought them to within 8 kilometers south of Ayn al-Arab, the closest they had been to the city since the offensive started.<ref name=response>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/islamic-state-intensifies-its-fight-response-us-attacks-272911|title=Islamic State Intensifies Its Fight In Response to U.S. Attacks|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> During the advance, ISIS captured the villages of Robey and Tall Ghazal and nearby grain silos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eaworldview.com/2014/09/syria-daily-us-missiles-hits-insurgents-upsets-opposition/|title=Syria Daily: US Missiles Hit Insurgents, Kill Civilians, Upset the Opposition|work=EA WorldView|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/deSyracuse/status/514768789075152896|title=Agathocle deSyracuse|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> In addition, an ISIS source claimed their forces had also captured several villages to the west of Ayn al-Arab. The frontline to the west had moved to the cluster of villages called Siftek as more ISIS fighters and tanks arrived for the offensive during the previous day.<ref name=response/> | |||
| The next morning, ISIS fighters were around 2 kilometers away as clashes were continuing. By this point, ISIS controlled 75 percent of the Ayn al-Arab region, while Kurdish forces only had control of Kobanê, the smaller town of Shera and around 15 villages.<ref name="75percent">{{cite web|url=http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Syria_Live_Blog/128067758|title=Clashes continue around Kobane|work=AJE Live Events|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 26 September, ISIS troops captured a hill, from where YPG fighters had been attacking them in recent days, 10 km (6 miles) west of Ayn al-Arab. They also captured a village around 7 km to the east of Kobanê.<ref name="ISIS_advances">{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/26/uk-mideast-crisis-kurds-idUKKCN0HL0PR20140926|title=Islamic State tightens grip on Syrian border town; shells hit Turkey|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ===Coalition Airstrikes and Ayn al-Arab surrounded=== | |||
| On 27 September, U.S. and Arab coalition planes bombed the area around Ayn al-Arab for the first time, targeting ISIS positions in the village of Alishar, 4 kilometers from Ayn al-Arab, and used as a command and control center by ISIS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Coalition-forces-interrupts-ISIL-attacks-to-Kobani_4262-CHMTU0NDI2Mi80|title=Coalition forces interrupts ISIL attacks to Kobani|work=Cihan News Agency|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> Despite the coalition airstrikes against frontline ISIS positions, they were still able to shell the city of Ayn al-Arab for the first time, wounding several people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/27/us-mideast-crisis-idUSKCN0HM06920140927|title=Islamic State defies air strikes by shelling Syrian Kurdish town|work=Reuters|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> The reticence to use airstrikes to help the Kurdish city was perhaps to avoid upsetting Turkey.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Air strikes alone will fail to stop Isis |url = http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/air-strikes-alone-will-fail-to-stop-isis-9759913.html |date = 28 September 2014 |work = independent.co.uk |accessdate = 3 October 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| By 28 September, 1,500 Kurdish fighters reinforced the Kurds in Kobanê.<ref name="1,500_Kurdish">{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/1500-Kurdish-Fighters-Join-Forces-Against-IS-in-Syria/2014/09/28/article2453611.ece|title=1,500 Kurdish Fighters Join Forces Against IS in Syria|work=The New Indian Express|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 29 September, ISIS forces approaching from the south and the southeast were 5 kilometers from the city,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/news/is-jihadists-within-5-km-of-key-syria-border-town_26928|title=IS jihadists within 5 km of key Syria border town|work=Your Middle East|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> while Ayn al-Arab was facing sustained bombardment for a second day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11129001/Isil-jihadists-bombard-Syrian-border-town-despite-allied-air-strikes.html|title=Isil jihadists bombard Syrian border town despite allied air strikes|date=29 September 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> The next day, ISIS troops coming in from the east advanced to 2–3 kilometers from Ayn al-Arab.<ref name="organization">{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/index.php?option=com_news&nid=24286&Itemid=2&task=displaynews#.VCq-yPmSyyE|title=Organization "Islamic state" on the outskirts of the eye Arabs "Kobanî" East|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> During the fighting, the Kurds reportedly destroyed two ISIS tanks. ISIS fighters also captured the village of Siftek, to the west, and used it to stage attacks on Ayn al-Arab itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/30/isis-kurds-iraq-syria_n_5910664.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592|title=Kurds Defeat ISIS Forces Holding Key Iraq Border Border Crossing|date=1 October 2014|work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> The village of Kazikan was also captured.<ref></ref> | |||
| On 1 October, ISIS advanced south-east of Ayn al-Arab and on the western front, from which Kurdish forces retreated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-02/islamic-state-fighters-advance-to-the-syrian-town-of-ain-al-arab/5784518|title=Islamic State: Kurdish fighters retreat as IS militants advance towards Syrian town of Ain al-Arab|work=ABC News|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> This resulted in ISIS troops capturing the final village on the outskirts of Ayn al-Arab and approaching to within one kilometer from the town's entrance. At this point, Kurdish fighters in Ayn al-Arab were reinforcing their positions with sand bags to prepare for potential house-to-house fighting.<ref name="State_Closes">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-01/islamic-state-closes-in-on-syria-s-kobani-kurdish-official-says|title=Islamic State Closes in on Syria’s Kobani as Kurds Resist|work=Businessweek.com|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> By evening, amid a sharp shortage of weapons, Kurdish forces withdrew from the city suburbs as ISIS forces continued their advance.<ref name="ISIS_militants">{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/10/isis-militants-behead-three-kurdish-civilians-northern-syria/|title=ISIS militants behead three Kurdish civilians in northern Syria|work=ARA News|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> Reports emerged that Kurdish fighters, including women, had been beheaded.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Syria: Isis Beheads Kurdish Women Soldiers as Battle for Kobani Rages On |url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-beheads-three-kurdish-women-battle-kobani-rages-1468078 |work = ] |date = 1 October 2014 |accessdate = 3 October 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| By 2 October, IS forces had taken well over 300 of the 354 villages around Ayn al-Arab and were positioned only hundreds of meters to the south and south-east of the city.<ref name="350_villages">{{cite web|url=http://syriahr.com/en/2014/10/the-is-is-hundreds-of-meters-away-from-ein-al-arabkobane/|title=The IS is hundreds of meters away from Ein al-Arab”Kobane”|author=Master|publisher=SOHR|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref name = "Kurds plea 03Oct14">{{Cite website |title = Syrian Kurds plea for help defending Kobani from Isis advance |url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/03/syrian-kurds-plea-for-help-kobani-isis-advance |website = ] |date = 3 October 2014 |accessdate = 3 October 2014 }}</ref> The next day, ISIS militants took control of Ayn al-Arab's southern and eastern entrances and exits.<ref></ref> They had also taken a strategic hill and a radio tower, which overlooks the town.<ref></ref> Later, a Kurdish fighter reported to CNN that ISIS had entered the city's south-western edges and fighting was ongoing.<ref></ref> Although the Pentagon have stated that the US-led coalition had conducted at least seven air sorties against Isis around Kobanê in the five days to Wednesday, no such action was reported to have been carried out on either 2 or 3 October.<ref name = "Kurds plea 03Oct14"/> | |||
| ==Spillover on the Turkish side of the border== | |||
| With well over a hundred thousand refugees fleeing into Turkey and PKK commandos and other volunteers trying to go the other way, Turkish security forces at the Mürşitpınar Border Gate less than five miles away from Ayn al-Arab, tear gassed protesters who make up those going on both directions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Protest-erupts-in-Turkish-Syrian-borderline_2921-CHMTUyMjkyMS80|title=Protest erupts in Turkish Syrian borderline|work=Cihan News Agency|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> On 30 September, errant shells landed on Turkish soil and the Turks shot back into Syrian territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/09/30/tanks-on-border-as-parliament-readies-to-discuss-troop-mandate|title=TANKS ON BORDER AS PARLIAMENT READIES TO DISCUSS TROOP MANDATE|work=dailysabah.com|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ==International reactions== | |||
| {{flag|Turkey}} - Turkish government opened their borders to some 200,000 Kurdish refugees from Ayn al-Arab area, arriving within several days from the onslaught of the Islamic State militias. Prime Minister ] said that Turkey "will do whatever we can so that Kobanê does not fall".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/turkey-will-do-whatever/1397024.html|agency=Channel News Asia|title=Turkey will do 'whatever it can' to prevent Kobane fall: PM|date=3 October 2014|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Kurdistan_Workers_Party_(PKK).svg}} - In September, the ] threatened to resume its fight against the Turkish government, partly because of what it said was the latter's support for the onslaught against Kobanê.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Exclusive: PKK commander threatens to resume war |url = http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/09/turkey-pkk-commander-bayik-threatens-resume-war.html |website = ] |date = 25 September 2014 |accessdate = 3 October 2014 }}</ref> In response to the treatment of fleeing Kurdish refugees, the PKK killed three and wound two Turkish policemen, violating the PKK–Turkey year-and-a-half old cease fire.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/kurdish-militants-claim-deadly-ambush-turkeys-southeast-1343877279#comment-1276|title=Kurdish militants claim deadly ambush in Turkey's southeast|accessdate=2 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| {{flag|Iraqi Kurdistan}} - Kurdish Iraqi officials said they are waiting for PYD approval to send reinforcements to Ayn al-Arab. | |||
| {{flag|Syria}} - A senior Syrian minister apologized for not sending airstrikes, saying that Ayn al-Arab was so close to the Turkish border, that their jets would violate Turkish territory and be shot down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/interview/29092014|title=Syrian Minister: We Could Not Defend Kobane Because of Turkey|work=Rudaw|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{portal|Syrian Civil War}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Linkrot|date=October 2014}} | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ] | |||
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