Islamic State targeted in 14 airstrikes by coalition task force

The United States and its allies have staged six airstrikes around the Syrian town of Kobani, where Kurdish forces have been pushing back Islamic State forces, a joint task force statement said on Tuesday.

During a 24-hour period starting early Monday local time, the coalition forces also conducted eight strikes on Islamic State in Iraq, the task force said in a report on its daily action.

The six strikes near Kobani destroyed eight Islamic State fighting positions, a checkpoint and a vehicle.

The US-led airstrikes helped Kurdish forces regain control of Kobani in late January, but their progress has been slowed recently.

The airstrikes in Iraq targeted Islamic State in six areas, hitting tactical units, buildings and fighting positions.

Meanwhile, the United States and Turkey have reached a tentative agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters and expect to sign the pact soon, US and Turkish officials said on Tuesday.

Ankara predicted a signing in days.

The US military has said it is planning to send more than 400 troops, including special operations forces, to train Syrian moderates at sites outside Syria as part of the fight against Islamic State. US officials have said they plan to train about 5,000 Syrian fighters a year for three years under the plan.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as Turkey, have publicly offered to host training sites. Turkey hopes the training will also bolster the weakened and divided Syrian opposition in their struggle against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

“Negotiations have been concluded and an agreement text will be signed with the US regarding the training of the Free Syrian Army in the coming period,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said.

“We will share all the technical details ... when the text is signed, but it is anticipated that this will happen in the coming days,” he told reporters in Ankara.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed an agreement with Ankara in principle. “As we have announced before, Turkey has agreed to be one of the regional hosts for the train-and-equip program for moderate Syrian opposition forces. We expect to conclude and sign the agreement with Turkey soon,” Ms Psaki told reporters.

The Free Syrian Army is seen by Turkey as a key actor in Syria’s kaleidoscopic conflict, but the group has been riven by divisions and suffered setbacks at the hands of government forces and other rebel factions. A deal between Ankara and Washington would be a positive development between the two longstanding allies, despite strains over Middle Eastern policy.

Turkey wants Dr Assad’s departure to be the focus in Syria, while Washington’s priority remains battling Islamic State insurgents.

Reuters