ISIS Suicide Bombings Claim 26, Wound 60, While Elsewhere, Kobani Still Stands

In more horrific displays of what those fighting ISIS are up against, specifically the Iraqi Kurds, the Islamic terrorist group executed a massive suicide bombing on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 26 Kurdish security forces northeast of Baghdad. An ISIS roadside bomb also killed western Anbar province’s police chief, reports The Associated Press, another nasty hit to absorb by Iraqi security forces as they struggle in their fight against the Islamic State terrorist group.

According to an official from the Kurdish Asayish security forces, the site of the ISIS triple suicide bombing attack was a village called Qara Tappah, in Diyala province. The first bomber approached a security compound gateway and blew himself up using an explosives vest. Within the compound is also the headquarters of a primary Kurdish political party.

Two cars filled with explosives followed minutes later, driven into the compound by ISIS suicide bombers. The resulting explosions caused major damage to the compound, with 60 or more people wounded in the attack.

The Islamic terrorist group took credit for the attack, identifying the three suicide bombers as “non-Iraqi jihadists.” The ISIS announcement was made via Twitter on an account frequently used by the Islamic terrorist group.

The dead and wounded victims were confirmed by hospital officials, all speaking anonymously because they are not allowed to speak to the media.

Despite this blow to anti-ISIS forces, Fox News is reporting that efforts by ISIS to take over the key city of Kobani have stalled, and the Islamic terrorist group has been stopped since Friday. Kobani, on the border with Turkey, has recently been a key city in the fight with ISIS, which has been threatening to overtake the city for weeks.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Associated Press that while ISIS militants haven’t been able to further advance into Kobani since Friday, the Islamic terrorist group has called in reinforcements. Rami Abdurrahman, Chief of the the Observatory for Human Rights group, said ISIS seems to be running short of fighters, and has even had to bring in members of its religious police, the Hisbah, to try to help the Islamic terrorist group out.

The U.S. led coalition of airstrikes, which have recently been reported as not having the impact on ISIS that was hoped, also seem to be regaining their leverage. Fox News sources report that recent waves of airstrikes have intensified, their effects starting to take hold, and ISIS militants appearing to be slowed by the latest barrages.

Another source close with Kurdish fighters confirmed that ISIS militants haven’t made any progress on Kobani since Friday, also noting that over the past five or six days, U.S.-led airstrikes have become “more serious.”

The U.S.-led coalition carried out at least two attacks from the air on Sunday, targeting the ISIS militant positions around Kobani, according to an Associated Press journalist.

Four more airstrikes involving fighters from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were also conducted in Syria on Saturday and Sunday, according to U.S. Central Command officials. An ISIS fighting position was taken out along with an ISIS staging area.

Control of Kobani is important for both sides, the fierce weeks-long fighting taking a toll on both Kurdish fighters and ISIS militants. For ISIS, the taking of Kobani would be a symbolic victory showing that they had their way despite the ongoing airstrikes.

For the residence of Kobani and the surrounding area, maintaining control and beating ISIS back is a literal fight for their lives.

[Image via Fox News]