The Battle For Kobani -- News Updates October 17, 2014

US Commander: Losing Kobani to IS 'Highly Possible' -- Voice of America

The top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East says U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and Kurdish forces have made "encouraging" progress against Islamic State militants trying to seize Kobani, but it is still "highly possible" the Syrian border city may fall into the group's hands.

General Lloyd Austin told reporters at the Pentagon Friday that the Islamic State group appears to have made the decision to make seizing Kobani its main effort.

Even as it assists the fight in Kobani, General Austin said the U.S. military's main focus is Iraq and enabling the efforts of Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State.

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The Battle For Kobani -- News Updates October 17, 2014

Kobani may fall to militants, top U.S. officer says -- USA Today
Commander: 'Highly possible' that Kobani will fall to ISIS -- The Hill
U.S. commander says Syrian town Kobani may fall to IS militants -- Xinhua News Agency
U.S. Commander Reports Heavy ISIS Losses in Syrian City of Kobani -- NYT
U.S. Bombing Legions of ISIS Fighters -- US News and World Report
General: Kobani provides chance to take out IS -- AP
ISIS fighters withdraw from Syria's embattled Kobani - RT sources -- RT
ISIS Retreats From Besieged Syrian City -- Time
Islamic State 'being driven out of Syria's Kobane' -- BBC
ISIL losing ground in Syrian town of Kobani as US-led airstrikes continue -- Euronews
Kobane air strikes help Kurds push back ISIL -- Al Jazeera
Fighting rages for control of Syria's Kobane -- Al Jazeera
Hundreds Wait for Kobani Fighting to End, Risking Lives at Border -- WSJ
Kurds' refusal to quit in Kobani proves decisive -- USA Today
Kobani Key to US Strategy Against Islamic State -- AP