Islamic State Crisis: Kurds ‘Recapture Key Kobane Hill’

Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State (IS) say they have recaptured a strategically important hilltop west of Kobane on Syria’s border with Turkey.

The advances were made after a series of air strikes by the US-led coalition.

The hill, Tall Shair, was captured more than 10 days ago by IS militants, who have besieged the area for a month.

Later on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama will hold talks with military chiefs from more than 20 countries on how to combat IS in syria and Iraq.

Correspondents say the meeting in Washington is the first time such high-ranking military officials from so many countries have come together since the US-led coalition was formed last month.

Suicide bombings

The battle for Kobane, a predominantly Kurdish town, has emerged as a major test of whether the coalition’s air campaign can push back IS.

Two weeks of air strikes against IS targets in and around Kobane have allowed Kurdish fighters to slow the jihadists’ advance, but Turkish and Western leaders have warned that the town is still likely to fall.