Transcript
PowerPoint Show by Andrew
Late last week, ISIS fighters attacked a Kurdish city in northern Syria, after seizing 21 nearby villages in a major assault. The attack on the city of Ayn al-Arab, known as Kobani in Kurdish, drove hundreds of thousands of residents to flee, most heading to the nearby border with Turkey.
The Associated Press is reporting that more than 150,000 Syrian Kurds have entered Turkey since the border was opened to refugees on September 19, and the United Nations warns that number could soon climb as high as 400,000. Turkey is already housing more than one million Syrians who have fled the years-long conflict between government troops, rebel soldiers, and jihadist groups.
Some of the Kurdish men who escorted their families into Turkey are now trying to return home to defend Kobani, but are finding themselves blocked at the border. As the U.S. and coalition partners begin air strikes against ISIS targets inside Syria, here are images of those recently driven out by the Islamic militant group.
Syrian Kurds cross the border from Syria into Turkey at the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, on September 23, 2014.
Turkish soldiers stand guard as Syrians wait behind the border fences near the Turkish town of Suruc on September 18, 2014.
Syrian refugees wait to cross into Turkey at the border near Suruc, Turkey, on September 22, 2014. On September 19, permission was granted from Ankara, and Turkey opened part of its border to Syria to the refugees.
A Syrian Kurdish woman crosses the border between Syria and Turkey.
Syrian Kurds throw a dead sheep as they protest asking for water for their animals on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey.
Turkish soldiers stand guard as Syrian Kurds wait behind the border fence.
Syrian Kurds wait near the Syrian border on September 20, 2014.
A Syrian Kurdish refugee waits after crossing the border near Suruc.
A Syrian Kurdish girl looks at the Turkish police as she crosses the border.
Tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds flooded into Turkey, fleeing an onslaught by the jihadist ISIS group.
Syrians rest after crossing in to Turkey near the Syrian border.
Protection of the Kurdish People (YPG) fighters clash with possible ISIS targets near the Syrian side of the Turkish border.
Smoke rises after Protection of the Kurdish People (YPG) fighters hit a target as they clash with possible ISIS fighters.
A Turkish soldier gives a bottle of water to a handicapped Syrian refugee waiting at the border in Suruc, Turkey, on September 21, 2014.
Syrian refugees gather at the border in Suruc, Turkey, on September 20, 2014.
Turkish soldiers walk by as several hundred Syrian refugees wait to enter at the border.
Turkish soldiers walk by as several hundred Syrian refugees wait to enter at the border.
A Syrian boy who sustained injuries in a mine blast receives first aid from Turkish medics on September 22, 2014.
Syrian refugees try to cross the border with their animals in Suruc.
A Turkish soldier fires during clashes with Kurdish people after Turkish authorities temporarily closed the border on September 21, 2014.
Riot police use water cannons to disperse Kurdish demonstrators who were clashing with Turkish security forces, as thousands of Syrian refugees continue to arrive at the border in Suruc.
Riot police use teargas to disperse Kurdish demonstrators who were clashing with Turkish security forces.
Kurdish protestors clash with Turkish soldiers near the Syrian border after Turkish authorities temporarily closed the border.
Kurdish people clash with Turkish soldiers near the Syrian border.
A Kurdish man bleeds after being injured while walking in the center of Suruc during clashes between protestors and Turkish riot policemen.
Syrian Kurds carry their belongings after crossing the Syrian-Turkish border.
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