Islamic State storms Syrian city

Islamic State militants in Syria have stormed government-held neighbourhoods in the predominantly Kurdish city of Hassakeh, capturing several areas.

The attack comes after IS suffered several setbacks in northern Syria against Kurdish forces over the past few weeks. The city of Hassakeh is divided between president Bashar Assad’s forces and Kurdish fighters.

Redur Khalil, a spokesman for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, said IS militants attacked government-held neighbourhoods on the southern edge of Hassakeh and captured some areas.

Syrian state TV reported intense clashes in the southern neighbourhood of Nashawi.

IS also staged a new attack on the Kurdish town of Kobani, which resisted a months-long assault by the militants.

Turkish officials said a suicide bomber detonated a car near the border gate that separates Kobani from the Turkish town of Mursitpinar.

Officials put the number of casualties at more than 40, with reports that a child had been killed.

Syrian state TV said IS fighters killed several people they captured in Hassakeh, including the head of a military housing institution. It said the militants sustained many casualties, including the commander of the group who is a foreign fighter.

IS tried to storm the city earlier this month and reached its southern outskirts before facing strong resistance from Syrian government troops who pushed them away.

In Kobani, Ghalia Nehme, a commander with the Kurdish Women’s Protection Units, said: “A group of fighters deployed in some areas of Kobani. We are defending a position now.”

After months of bloody street fighting, the Kurdish forces in Kobani, which lies on the Syria-Turkey border, succeeded in pushing out IS militants earlier this year. That was a landmark victory against IS, enabled in part by US-led coalition air strikes.

Syrian state TV said the extremists crossed from the Turkish side of the border into Kobani.