The battle for Western Kurdistan's (Syria) Kobanê witnessed what could mark a major shift as Turkish Foreigh Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu today announced that his government had decided to allow Peshmerga forces to cross from South Kurdistan (Iraq) towards the town.

Kobanê is currently besieged, and partially occupied, by Islamic State (IS) fighters, who have vowed to end Kurdish resistance in the town.

Up till now, Ankara had been rejecting to allow any military aid into Kobanê through the Turkish-Syrian border pass there.

The announcement comes just hours after the United States Central Command (CENTCOM, responsible for the Middle East) explained that US planes dropped from the air "weapons, ammunition and medical supplies" to help Kobane's Kurdish resistance.

People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia Spokesman Redur Xelil said that the shipment of weapons will have "a positive impact" for Kobanê resistance fighters. Xelil however warned that it "will not be enough to decide the battle." Since the US-led coalition began conducting intense air strikes on IS positions, YPG fighters have been able to re-take some parts of Kobanê and a nearby hill from the hands of jihadists. But Kobane's eastern neighbourhoods continue to be occupied by IS fighters.

Delivery from South Kurdistan

CENTCOM further said that airdropped medicines and weapons had been delivered by the government of South Kurdistan (KRG). This was confirmed by the KRG through a statement. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) sources claim it is this party who specifically sent the arms to Kobanê. The South Kurdish government did not confirm this.

PUK remains on good terms with YPG and Western Kurdistan ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). By contrast, over the past few months, PYD has clashed with the other South Kurdish main party, KRG President Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Today's changes in Kobanê are unfolding days after PYD co-chair Salih Muslim visited South Kurdistan last week, where he met Barzani.

CENTCOM insists Iraq is US's main goal

CENTCOM commander Lloyd J. Austin III insisted on Friday that the US's main goal was still helping the Iraqi state to regain control over its territory, which is now partially in the hands of the Islamic State. Operations in Syria, Austin argued, were subordinated to this goal. The Pentagon had in fact been defending this stance during the last weeks.

According to Austin, US strikes have are now "hindering [IS's] ability to mass and to shift combat power."