Isis Makes Gains in Syrian Border Town of Kobani Despite US Airstrikes

The Isis fighters are gaining ground in the Syrian-Turkish border town of Kobani despite the targeted airstrikes launched by the US-led coalition.

Continuing their push into the border town, the militants captured several buildings by attacking the city from flanks even as Kurdish forces struggled to contain them.

Turkey has been kept on high alert as the Isis, the self-proclaimed Islamic State, marches on. Tanks and hundreds of Turkish troops have been stationed along the border, which is a few hundred meters away from Kobani. Nonetheless, their interventions were not enough to stop Isis fighters from entering the town.

The three-week fighting is reaching its peak as Turkey has openly expressed its concerns that Kobani is about to fall into the hands of the Isis.

"Kobani is about to fall. The air strikes will not stop the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [Isis]. We need a no-fly zone, safe havens and to train and equip the moderate opposition in Syria," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a visit to a Syrian refugee camp.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 400 people have been killed in the violence in Kobani.

The increasing fears that Kobani will be seized by the Isis militants are also forcing the reluctant Turkey to join the US-led anti-Isis coalition.

Meanwhile, Ankara has also said they have drafted contingency plans to invoke Nato if the Isis presses ahead in the town and enters Turkey.

"From the moment the incidents relating to Syria first started, we asked NATO to prepare for possibilities to make plans. NATO prepared a plan taking various alternatives into account. If there is an attack on Turkey, NATO will bring about the provisions of Article 5 of the Washington Convention," Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz told reporters.

Earlier Nato had said they are ready to back Turkey in case of an attack from the Isis.