The Turkish military sent tanks and armored vehicles to the Turkish-Syrian border Monday, Reuters reports. Tanks took up positions near the besieged Syrian border town of Kobani as Islamic State insurgents continued to shell the city and stray fire hit Turkish soil.
Islamic State militants began their assault on Kobani more than a week ago. The siege forced 150,000 Kurds to flee into Turkey, according to Reuters.
“Because of the bombs everyone is running away. We’ve heard people have been killed. The YPG (Kurdish forces) have small weapons but IS has big guns and tanks. Most people are leaving now. It was safe before but now with these bombs people won’t stay,” said an engineer who fled Kobani on Monday.
Turkey has so far declined to become militarily involved in the international fight against the Islamic State.
