TURKEY: Syrian Kurds continue to flee fighting between Islamic State and Kurdish peshmerga forces in Kobani

Record ID: 274663

  • Title: TURKEY: Syrian Kurds continue to flee fighting between Islamic State and Kurdish peshmerga forces in Kobani
  • Date: 29th September 2014
  • Summary: MURSITPINAR, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARMOURED MILITARY VEHICLES AT BORDER CROSSING PARAMILITARY SOLDIERS VARIOUS OF SYRIAN CITIZENS WALKING TOWARDS BORDER TO KOBANI YUMURTALIK, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SYRIAN KURDISH REFUGEES WALKING THROUGH CHECKPOINT REFUGEES BEING SEARCHED AT CHECKPOINT TURKISH RED CRESCENT OFFICER CARR
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1SVONCKZV8G17BVL0WGKCKHYD
  • Story Text: Syrian Kurdish refugees kept crossing into Turkey on Monday (September 29) as clashes between Kurdish fighters and Islamic State (IS) intensified in the Syrian town of Kobani. Gunfire rang out from across the border and a plume of smoke was seen rising over Kobani as periodic shelling by Islamic State fighters continued. Kurds watching the fighting from the Turkish side of the border said the Syrian Kurdish group, the YPG, were putting up a strong defence.
    At Mursitpinar, the nearby border crossing, dozens of young men were returning to Syria, many saying they would join the fight. Other returning refugees hoped fighting would soon end.
    "We fled from artillery fire there (in Kobani) and arrived at the Turkish border. I hope Turkey will help us, if not then we will go back to Syria to our houses," said Ahmad, a refugee from Kobani.
    "We fled from cruelty," said Hadi, whose village has been attacked by Islamic State fighters, whom he described as "dogs".
    Turkey has not permitted its own Kurds to cross the border and join the battle, saying only Kurds with Syrian passports were allowed to go into Syria.
    The Turkish general staff said on its website two mortar shells fired from Syria had strayed across the border on Sunday (September 28) afternoon. The Turkish military "responded with fire in line with its rules of engagement".
    A NATO ally with the most powerful army in the area, Turkey has so far kept out of the U.S.-led coalition, angering many of its own Kurds who say the policy have abandoned their cousins in Syria to the wrath of Islamic State fighters.
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