Fighting intensified Monday between Kurdish troops and advancing Islamic state militants in Kobani, Syria.
The heavily Kurdish city on the Turkish border saw a lull in action Sunday after the IS advance was slowed, but Monday an explosives-laden IS truck was detonated before it could reach the center of the city, Kurdish officials said. They added an appeal to Kurds in Iraq to send reinforcements to keep the city from falling intro IS hands.
The battle for Kobani has involved airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition and has become symbolic of the campaign against IS, with Kurds doing the ground fighting and international help coming from the airstrikes. Turkey, not eager to get involved in the campaign, has continued to place tanks and other military equipment on its border, within view of the city, without coming to Kobani's aid.
The battle in Kobani is now a month long.
Turkey has agreed to allow moderate Syrian rebels to use its ground for training purposes, U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said, welcoming the agreement. The Turkish Parliament approved use of its military bases by coalition forces, but the decision rests with the executive branch of the government, which thus far has not offered permission.
