Syria: Airstrikes intensify on 'Islamic State' in Kobane

The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) made significant advances on Wednesday in the hours after the US-led coalition stepped up airstrikes against the Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS) in and around Kobane.

At least four airstrikes were reported on Wednesday after the coalition announced it had carried out 21 raids on Monday and Tuesday, marking the largest number of sorties in a 24-hour period since the air campaign started last month.

The co-president of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party said that Kurdish fighters had advanced near the strategic Tel Shair hill overlooking part of Kobane, taking advantage of the air raids slowing the advance of IS fighters.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama held talks with military officers from all five Arab states taking part in the Syria air campaign.

"There are not quick fixes involved. We’re still at the early stages," Obama said.

"As with any military effort, there will be days of progress and there are going to be periods of setback."

Meanwhile, in the central province of Hama, masked gunmen assassinated Waris al-Yunis, a member of the Syrian parliament.

Yunis was a representative from the coastal province of Tartus. According to Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the London-based opposition group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Yunis was a commander in the pro-regime National Defence Force militia fighting alongside government troops.

In Iraq, IS militants are closing in on the town of Amriyat al-Fallujah, one of the last still controlled by the government in the Anbar province, 35 kilometres (20 miles) from Baghdad.

Despite daily bombing raids in Iraq since August 8 and in Syria since September 23, IS militants continue to advance in parts of both countries.