As negotiations continue over the defense of the Kurdish center of Kobane in northern Syria, the Syrian Kurdish leader Salih Muslim has warned of a long “war of attrition”.
Muslim, the head of the Democratic Unity Party (PYD) told the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat:
[It’s] attrition for both sides unless something in the situation changes….
If we were to receive qualitative (stronger) weapons, we would be able to hit the tanks and armored vehicles that they use – we may be able to bring a qualitative change in the battle.
The defense of Kobane, under attack by the Islamic State for almost two months, has been the subject of intense — and inconclusive — debate among Iraqi and Syrian Kurds, the US, and Turkey since early September.
While the Americans have carried out airstrikes on the Islamic State’s attackers and Turkey has now agreed to the transit of 200 Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga to Kobane, the Syrian Kurds wants substantial deliveries of arms to face jihadist tanks and heavy weapons
So far Washington has only carried out one airdrop of 27 bundles of ammunition, light arms, and supplies.
Muslim commented, “They [the small arms] are not enough to change the balance of power, but if they continue then they can bring about a change. Air raids so far are limited.”
He accused Ankara of supporting the Islamic State, turning a blind eye when 120 jihadists crossed the border from Turkey earlier this week.
The Turkish Government has worked with Iraqi Kurdistan to allow the peshmerga, as it believes the Iraqi Kurdish presence can limit any pursuit by the PYD — whom it considers an ally of the “terrorist” Turkish Kurdish PKK — of greater power.
However, Ankara has held out against any Syrian Kurds, cut out by the Islamic State from reaching Kobane inside Syria, from transit across Turkey to reach the besieged town.
At Least 14 Killed in Fighting in Tripoli in Northern Lebanon; Jabhat al-Nusra Threatens Execution of Lebanese Soldiers
At least 14 people have been killed in running battles between Lebanese troops and gunmen in Tripoli in north Lebanon since Friday night.
The clashes started with an attack on a Lebanese Army unit, and have escalated to a military campaign to rid the northern city of the gunmen.
Two civilians, six soldiers, and at least six gunmen have been killed and 20 people wounded.
The Islamic faction Jabhat al-Nusra threatened the execution of abducted Lebanese soldiers if the fighting did not stop.
“We warn the Lebanese Army against escalating its military campaign against the Sunni people of Tripoli, and we demand that it breaks the siege and launch a peaceful compromise,” the message said. “Otherwise, we will have to begin ending the kidnapped soldiers file gradually during the next hours.”
Jabhat al-Nusra said the first execution would take place at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, but delayed the deadline by four hours after the Muslim Scholars Committee pleaded with it.
The Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra still hold 27 soldiers who were taken during fighting in the Lebanese border town of Arsal in August. They have executed others, while seven have been released.
Deployment of 150 Peshmerga to Kobane Delayed for A Day
Sunday’s deployment of 150 Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga to the besieged Syrian Kurdish center of Kobane has been delayed by 24 hours.
An officer in the peshmerga unit said the delay related to “technical issues” over the passage of troops through Turkey.
He said the force has received “the best new American weapons, military supplies, and clothing”.
The peshmerga will be led by Sihad Barzani, the commander of the Iraqi Kurdistan artillery brigade and brother of the Kurdistan Regional Governnment’s President Massoud Barzani.
