Air strikes push Islamic State back from Kobane

Aircraft of the international coalition on Wednesday carried out two new air strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets around the Syrian border town of Kobane, an AFP correspondent reported.

The first air strike sent a cloud of thick black smoke billowing into the air from a hill on the eastern side of Kobane, the correspondent reported from the Turkish border.

The second, a few hours later, sent a cloud of smoke above the northeastern side of the city.  

Armoured vehicles of the Turkish army patrol along the Turkish-Syrian border, in the southeastern town of SurucThey were the first air strikes witnessed Wednesday after a flurry of strikes Tuesday which some sources said had helped Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG) push back the IS militants.

Idris Nahsen, a Kurdish official from Kobane, said that the air strikes had been helpful. 

"The situation has changed since Tuesday. YPG forces have pushed back IS forces," said Nahsen, who himself moved to Turkey on Tuesday but now plans to go back.

The fighting for Kobane could still be heard on the Turkish side of the border and IS fighters could be seen moving around the edge of the city. The black flags planted by IS on Monday were still in place.  

Meanwhile, the minaret of a mosque in the centre of Kobane that had been clearly visible from the Turkish side collapsed, the correspondent said. The cause was not immediately clear.