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08Oct14

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Airstrikes alone cannot prevent fall of Syrian border city Kobane: Pentagon

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Airstrikes by the United States and coalition partners alone cannot prevent the Islamic State (IS) militants from retaking the Syrian-Turkish border city of Kobane, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The latest U.S. airstrikes have forced some IS militants to leave the predominantly Kurdish city in northern Syria, but it may still fall into the hands of the IS forces, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"We're doing everything we can from the air to try to halt the momentum of ISIL against that town," Kirby said. "Air power is not going to be alone enough to save that city."

Kobane, taken by the IS on Monday, as well as other towns and villages, could still be captured by IS forces, he warned, citing there is no ground forces in Syria that can cooperate with the U.S. and its coalition forces to defeat the IS.

Kirby noted that the key to defeating the IS will be training and arming Syrian rebel fighters, a plan under consideration by the U.S. government.

U.S. Central Command said earlier Wednesday that the United States and partner forces launched nine airstrikes against IS targets in Syria on Tuesday and Wednesday, destroying some IS armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and training camps.

Though the airstrikes in Syria are effective, the fighting against the IS will not be solved by the military forces alone, Kirby said.

"As dramatic as airstrikes can be, and as effective on the battlefield as it can be, there's not a solution here," he said, adding that the long-term solution is creating "good governance" in Iraq and Syria so to provide options for their people so they will not become supporters to the extremist groups like the IS.

U.S. President Barack Obama met with senior U.S. officers and national security advisors at the Pentagon Wednesday afternoon to discuss the response to contain IS advances in Syria and Iraq. Washington is to host a meeting on Oct. 14 of military chiefs from about 20 members of the U.S.-led coalition to consider future steps to defeat the IS.

[Source: Xinhua, Washington, 08Oct14]

Syria War

This document has been published on 09Oct14 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.