Dozens of rebels from the Free Syrian Army joined the battle for Kobani to help Kurdish fighters defend the besieged border town from ISIS, officials and fighters said Wednesday. The Western-backed Free Syrian Army has fought for years to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Their presence in Kobani underscores how the threat posed by ISIS has blurred lines for Western allies in Syria and the town's importance as a test of the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Sunni militants.
More Kurdish fighters — known as peshmerga — were en route to Kobani on Wednesday. Abu Aziz, who has been fighting alongside peshmerga in Kobani, told NBC News that there were around 330 Free Syrian Army fighters in the town following the arrival of around 90 rebels early Wednesday. He said FSA forces were fighting on the town's western front, while Kurdish fighters battle for the southern and eastern sides of Kobani.
In-Depth
- Peshmerga En Route to Join Fight in Kobani
- Fight for Kobani: Turkey Clears Way for Kurdish Fighters
- Analysis: Fight for Kobani Is Just a Sideshow
