Turkish Kurds enter Syria to take on Islamic State

Beirut: Hundreds of Kurdish fighters have entered northern Syria to help battle jihadists besieging the Kurdish city of Ain al-Arab, a monitor said Tuesday. “At least 800 Kurdish fighters crossed the Turkish-Syrian border to help their comrades in Ain al-Arab (Kobane in Kurdish), which is under total siege by Islamic State jihadists,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

A Kurdish Syrian activist said the flow of fighters came as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party , blacklisted in Turkey as a terrorist organisation, gave orders for Kurdish fighters to move to protect Kobane. “The Kurds are preparing for an assault by the IS,” said Mr Rahman.

“Kurds going in to fight are from everywhere —Turkey, Iran, Syria and others. Even some Kurds based in Europe are saying they want to go fight,” said Havidar, a Kurdish Syrian activist.