As the world focuses on Gaza, Isis continues its deadly advance indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews

As the world focuses on Gaza Isis continues its deadly advance

Patrick Cockburn (editedEvan BartlettJul 16, 2014 (Picture: Institute for the Study of War/the i paper) As the world's attention was diverted to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) has continued its advance across large swathes of territory in eastern Syria. The jihadi group has taken almost all of the Deir Ezzor province and is battling to crush the resistance of Syrian Kurds, using artillery and tanks seized over the Iraq border. Isis is establishing dominance over the opposition to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who has just been sworn in for a third term in office, as other rebel groups flee or pledge allegiance to the caliphate. It is now feared the recent advances in Syria, following other victories in Iraq last month, are beginning to alter the balance of power in the whole Middle East region. Isis is now seeking to capture the northern enclave of Kobani where roughly 500,000 Kurds are situated, many of them refugees from elsewhere in Syria. “Isis have about 5,000 fighters which have been attacking us for the last 13 days using tanks and rockets and American Humvees captured in Iraq,” Idris Naasan, a political activist in Kobani, told the i paper by phone. “The fighting is very heavy and we have lost three villages we are trying to regain.” More: 11 things you need to know about the Isis caliphateKeep reading...Show less

The tomb of ' Santa Claus' has been discovered in Turkey

Just Stop Oil 4 protest groups on the scene and what they stand for

Spanish PM condemns college student' s ' repugnant' mass catcalling

Please log in or register to upvote this article

Top 100

Who won today' s PMQs Truss tells Starmer she' s ' a fighter not a quitter'

prime minister's questionspmqsliz trusskeir starmerprime minister's questions1h

Elon Musk reportedly thought that Grimes was not real

elon muskgrimescelebritiesspacexteslaelon musk5h

Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt

just stop oilvan goghprotestclimate activistsjust stop oil5h

The tomb of ' Santa Claus' has been discovered in Turkey

santa clausturkeyst nicholassanta claus6m

Lisa Gilroy' s sad story about rude fans goes viral but there' s a twist

celebritiesviralcomedianlisa gilroyTwittercelebrities8m

Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip

flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022

Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face

madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022

Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance

elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022

Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper

wedding cakeOct 12, 2022

Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos

Love IslandOct 11, 2022

Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'

lgbt+Oct 11, 2022

Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'

steven seagalOct 10, 2022

Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West

lizzoOct 10, 2022

14 of the worst things the Tories did this week

liz trussOct 08, 2022The Conversation (0)