A shift in the US approach as regards the siege of Kobanê in Western Kurdistan (Syria) became apparent yesterday as government sources told the Washington Post that there exists a "psychological" motivation for increased allied airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) around the town.

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said that the US-led coalition had in the last two days launched over 40 airstrikes against IS positions around Kobanê, many more than in previous days.

Until last week, the Pentagon had been explaining that defending Kobanê was not a central goal of the US strategy in the region, which was more focused on Iraq than in Syria's Kurdish area. Why this change? An senior administration official speaking on the condition of anonimity told the Washington Post the Pentagon now wants to show how IS jihadists "aren't ten feet tall." Washington is worried about the image of apparently indestructible militia that IS has been bulding over the last months. Kobanê could be one of the places where it can be proven it is not.

Kurdish fighters slowly advancing

Kurdish YPG fighters on Tuesday said they had been forced IS gihadists out of two points in Kobanê. On the one hand, the Kurdish group had recovered some spots in Kobanê downtown, and on the other, the YPG had re-taken control over Tal Shair village, which is located about 4 km west of Kobanê.

Speaking to Reuters, YPG Spokesman Polat Can said that Kurdish fighetes are telling the US-led coalition the exact location of IS units. Coalition jets then attack those positions. The Pentagon refused to confirm this, but it announced that "hundreds" of IS gihadists had been killed as a result of Kobanê strikes.

Islamic State advancing in Iraq's west

Although the situation has worsened for the IS in Kobanê, the same cannot be said of Anbar province in western Iraq. IS fighters there are approaching the town of Amriyat al-Fallujah, 35 kilometers west from Iraqi capital city Baghdad. IS has been for days trying to occupy Anbar's capital Ramadi too. The jihadists are now in control of 70% to 80% of the province.

(Image: A pro-Kurdish resistance protester in Berlin / Picture by Montecruz Foto.)