MESOP TODAY’S SITUATION REPORT ALL AROUND KOBANE
29- Oct 2014 – Iraqi Kurdish fighters have begun crossing the Turkish border to assist in the battle against Islamic State militants in the Syrian town of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab). More than 80 peshmerga fighters have reached Kobani, while the remaining 70 have traveled into Turkey from Iraq driving in a heavy weapons convoy and are expected to reach Syria later on Wednesday. Additionally, up to 200 fighters from the opposition Free Syrian Army have arrived in Kobani to help Kurdish forces defend the town. The U.S.-led coalition has launched more than a hundred airstrikes targeting militants around Kobani, and the United States has provided weapons and ammunition to Kurdish fighters. However, Kurdish officials said Islamic State militants have recovered from losses and currently control about half of the town. Meanwhile, al-Nusra Front fighters are expanding control in northern Syria. The al Qaeda linked group has reportedly seized several villages in Idlib province from the moderate opposition Syria Revolutionaries’ Front. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Islamic State fighters attacked the Shaar gas field in Homs province Tuesday killing at least 30 government and pro-regime fighters.