UN urges action to protect Kobani civilians against ISIL

The UN chief has called for an immediate action to protect the civilian population in Syria’s border town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani, as clashes between ISIL terrorists and Kurds spread to new areas.

In light of the “barbarous campaign” waged by ISIL, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “urgently calls on all those with the means…to take immediate action to protect the beleaguered civilian population of Ain al-Arab,” according to a statement released by his spokesperson on Tuesday.

The UN head also highlighted the atrocities committed by the Takfiri militants in the areas they have under control in Syria and Iraq, adding that he is following the developments in Kobani with “grave concern,” the statement said.

The warning came as ISIL militants on Tuesday opened new fronts in their battle against Kurdish defenders in the southern and western parts of the city.

On Monday, ISIL terrorists took over three districts of the flashpoint town.

The ISIL militants have been trying to reach and seize control of Kobani over the past few weeks, but failed to do so amid stiff resistance by Kurdish forces. Dozens of ISIL militants have been killed in the fighting.

Kobani and its surroundings have been under attack since mid-September, with ISIL militants capturing dozens of nearby Kurdish villages. The intense fighting for the strategic town has forced nearly 200,000 people to take refuge in Turkey.

Syrian Kurdish fighters have called on all Kurds across the region to take up arms against the ISIL militants.