EU urges Türkiye to open border to help Kobane

According to AFP, European Union (EU) foreign ministers on October 20 called on Türkiye to open its border to help the Syrian town of Kobane, which is currently under attack by self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

“The situation in Kobane and in other areas under siege and where there is heavy fighting against IS is a matter of serious concern,” said a joint statement after a regular meeting of the 28 EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. “The EU appreciates Turkey’s efforts to provide refuge to the Kobane refugees and calls on Turkey to keep its borders open to allow any supplies to reach the people of Kobane.”

Turkish tanks in the border area near Kobane (Source: AFP)

The statement did not give details but EU diplomatic sources confirmed the phrase “any supplies” would include weapons or fighters being brought across the border.

Earlier in the day, Türkiye said it was helping Iraqi Kurdish fighters cross the border and fight in Kobane, a move that marked a significant shift for Türkiye as Ankara has so far blocked the group./.

According to VNA