Top US envoy says Islamic State 'impaled' itself by gathering in Kobane

Ankara, Turkey: The Islamic State (IS) group of jihadists has “impaled itself” on Kobane by pouring fighters into the strategic Syrian town so they can be bombed by the US-led coalition, a senior US envoy said Thursday. Retired General John Allen, coordinator of the coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, told Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper an estimated 600 Islamic State fighters had already been killed in air strikes and the group would ultimately be defeated in the battle for the town. “ISIL has in so many ways impaled itself on Kobane,” said Allen, using a variant of the name for Islamic State. [caption id=“attachment_1813479” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Neighbourhood of Kobane after airstrikes. Reuters[/caption] He said that Islamic State had sought to make a symbol out of Kobane by defeating the Kurdish forces seeking to retain control of the town. Islamic State continues to “pour fighters” into Kobane who can then be bombed by coalition war planes, he said, estimating air raids had killed some 600 jihadists and created “real problems” for them. “Any time you mass to achieve the affect that they are trying to achieve with respect to Kobane, you create targets,” he commented. He said IS’s ultimate retreat from Kobane would indicate that it has not been able to achieve its objectives. “I think, the sense is, if they pull out, this is going to be a real indicator that the ‘march to victory’ of ISIL has finally hit its high water mark.” He said it was time to reverse the notion that Islamic State was invincible. “And, in truth, what we are learning is that they are very defeatable.” Allen met with senior Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday for discussions aimed at countering the threat posed by Islamic State fighters, who have captured large swathes of Iraq and Syria right up to the Turkish border. Turkey’s refusal to play a bigger role in the US-led coalition to defeat jihadists has caused strain in ties between the two NATO allies. Ankara has called for a comprehensive strategy to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power, and the formation of a security zone along its volatile border. “We absolutely must consider Turkey’s national interests and special considerations. It is very clear that Turkey is a frontline state,” Allen said. Allen, who hailed the US relationship with Turkey a “long-term friendship, an old alliance”, said he was in talks with Turkey over how to deal with its demands. AFP