Islam Times - Kobani could fall to ISIL militants: US cmdr.

Islam Times - While Kurdish forces continue to make more gains in their battle against ISIL Takfiri militants, a top US military commander says it is “highly possible” that the Syrian border city could fall into the hands of ISIL terrorists.

On Friday, General Lloyd Austin, the head of the US Central Command, said Syria’s northern city of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani to Kurds, could still fall to the ISIL militants despite stiff resistance by Kurdish forces.

The top US general also said ISIL operations are focused on Kobani as the terrorists seek to expand the territories they have under control in Syria and Iraq.

“In my assessment, the enemy has made a decision to make Kobani his main effort,” said the American commander, adding that the group has continued to pour militants into the troubled Syrian city in recent days.

This is while on Friday, a Kurdish military commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kurdish fighters had managed to force out the ISIL militants from most parts of Kobani. He expressed optimism about the possibility of liberating the entire city in the near future.

The senior US military official also pointed to ISIL operations in Iraq and said Iraqi armed forces were “incrementally” recapturing ground from the extremist militants.