ISIS Retreating from Kobani, Says Kurdish Official

[GBCW 397]

The Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) has suffered setbacks and has begun retreating from parts of the Syrian border town of Kobani, according to a local official, who said Kurdish forces were advancing against the militant group.

Idris Nassan told the BBC that ISIS had previously controlled almost half the town but currently occupies “less than 20%.”

The retreat comes after the U.S. stepped up the intensity of air strikes in the region, with al-Jazeera quoting U.S. officials as saying Western coalition forces had launched about 40 air strikes in the past two days. “We know we’ve killed several hundred of them,” said Rear Admiral John Kirby.

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Despite the recent achievements ...Gray says there’s a limit to how much air strikes — even with helicopters as opposed to fixed-wing aircraft — can achieve without ground troops.

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“To completely destroy or thoroughly degrade ISIS will require substantial action from troops on the ground,” he adds.

http://time.com/3512529/isis-retreating-from-kobane-says-kurdish-official/

[Pooky 3,786]

Despite the recent achievements ...Gray says theres a limit to how much air strikes even with helicopters as opposed to fixed-wing aircraft can achieve without ground troops.

To completely destroy or thoroughly degrade ISIS will require substantial action from troops on the ground, he adds.

They'll be there. It's only a matter of time.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They'll be there. It's only a matter of time.

Agree that there will be ground troops. Question is, where do they come from. Turkey would be in there if that wouldn't help the Kurds. But let ISIS strike in Turkey and scare away their tourists and you'll see them marching in - even if that means inadvertently helping the Kurds. And that day will come. Sooner rather than later, I'm afraid.