US drops weapons and ammunition to help Kurdish fighters in Kobani

John Kerry says it would be ‘morally very difficult’ not to support Kurds as Turkey allows fighters from Iraq to help defend town from Isis

Tracer rounds light the sky over Kobani during an airstrike, seen from the Mursitpinar crossing on the Turkish border Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Constanze Letsch in Istanbul and agencies-Monday 20 October 2014

The US military has dropped weapons, ammunition and medical aid to Kurdish forces defending Kobani against Islamic State (Isis) militants, while Turkey has said it will allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to reinforce the Syrian border town.

Following several weeks of air strikes by the US-led coalition in and around Kobani, the air drops were the first time weapons and ammunition had been provided to local Kurdish forces.
US Drops Weapons and Ammunition to Help Kurdish Fighters in Kobani by Thavam