US-led coalition carries out 13 air strikes on Isis in Iraq and Syria

• Central Command says eight strikes on Syrian town of Kobani
• Strikes in Iraq hit Isis positions near Sinjar and Mosul

A photograph from October shows thick smoke and flames erupting from an airstrike by the US-led coalition in Kobani, Syria. Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

Sunday 28 December 2014

US-led forces on Sunday conducted eight air strikes against Islamic State (Isis) militants in Syria and five strikes on Isis targets in Iraq, the US military said in a statement.

In Syria, the strikes centered on the town of Kobani near the Turkish border, the Combined Joint Task Force said. Fighting for control of Kobani has raged for some months, with Kurdish forces recently gaining the upper hand, largely thanks to support from coalition air power.

The strikes in Iraq included strikes against Isis positions near Sinjar and near Mosul, the task force said.

On Wednesday, Isis fighters in Syria captured a Jordanian pilot after his F-16 came down near Raqqa. The plane was the first from coalition forces to be lost.

Air strikes in Iraq began on 8 August. In Syria, strikes began on 23 September. US Central command said it carried out 12 strikes in the two countries on Saturday, and 39 strikes on Thursday and Friday.