The key Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane might fall to Islamic State (IS) fighters soon, an official has told the BBC. A flag appearing to be that of Islamic State has been seen flying over a building on the eastern edge of Kobane. Intense fighting has been raging between Kurdish and ISIL fighters who have battled to control the predominately Kurdish town for almost three weeks. Meanwhile, Turkey has beefed up its military presence along the volatile frontier with Syria, as over a dozen Turkish tanks appeared to have taken up defensive positions on a hill in the Turkish town of Mursitpinar, just across the border from Kobane.
NATO Secetary General Jens Stolenberg said on Monday that the Alliance would stand by Turkey if that proves necessary to protect the country from attacks by ISIL.“Turkey should know that NATO will be there if there is any spillover, any attacks on Turkey as a consequence of the violence we see in Syria,” said Stolenberg, as quoted by Euronews.