CGTN America
A Kurdish man stands close to the Turkish-Syrian border as smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, as seen from the southeastern village of Mursitpinar, in the Sanliurfa province, on October 16, 2014. Turkey’s ruling party said it was optimistic about the prospects for the peace process with Kurdish rebels after a spate of violence raised concern about its viability. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS
Coalition air raids have slowed IS movement in the Syria town of Kobane, and now Syrian Kurds have said they need more weapons and troops to keep up the fight.
Many Kurds who escaped to Turkey want to go back to Syria to help. CCTV America’s Natalie Carney reports that Turkey’s security forces have closed the border.
The international community has been asking Turkey to open its border for humanitarian aid. Turkish Prime Minster Ahmet Davutoglu has said Syrian refugees in Turkey who wish to go back to Kobane to fight will be allowed to do so.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the case at the Turkish border. Turkish soldiers told CCTV America off camera that they were ordered not to allow anyone to cross for fear they might join the Kurdish fighters.
Despite this, the most determined still find ways to cross the border. Some come back injured, but others don’t come back at all.
Funerals have become an almost daily occurrence at the border town of Suruc. Turkish fighters who don’t survive the injuries are buried there.
Turkey tightened its border policy as part of its commitment to the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic fighters. Ankara hopes this will prevent jihadi foreign fighters from reaching Syria, yet it’s also closing off a lifeline for many.
For more on perspective on the U.S.-led air campaign, CCTV America was joined by Professor James Gelvin. He is a history professor at UCLA, and the author of a book on conflicts in the Mideast.
