Islamic State militants head for Kobane

There have been reports throughout the day that Islamic State militants are aiming to gain full control of Ayn al-Arab, the border town between Syria and Turkey known in Kurdish as Kobane.

Hundreds of thousands of Kurds have already fled the town, though many faced difficulties crossing the border into Turkey as Turkish security forces upped security at the border.

In an indication that Islamic State militants are advancing towards the town, which lies just inside the border in far north-central Syria, there are now reports that their fighters are attempting to take control of Shiran village, five kilometres south of Kobane.

Elijah Magnier, correspondent from al-Rai, reported earlier in the day that IS had been able to seize control of a village near Kobane despite several US airstrikes.