Turkish Kurds watch the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing
Turkish Kurds watch the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc, October 19, 2014. Reuters

Kurdish forces in Syria received U.S. aid around Kobani, the besieged Syrian town. The U.S. Central Command in Tampa said that the military air had been provided to resupply the forces in its fight against Islamic State extremists in the region.

The U.S. Air Force dropped 27 bundles of medical supplies, ammunition and weapons to the Kurdish fighters. Three C-130 cargos were used to drop the military aid. USA Today reported that the cargo planes had not been escorted by fighter jets. According to the Pentagon, it was unnecessary to do so as it believed that theIslamic State did not have anti-aircraft capability. The cargos came back safely after dropping the supplies at around 8 pm ET from Kobani situated on the border of Turkey. Kobani's geographical location made it a critical site. U.S. officials expressed their concern that the Islamic State militants might be able to take control of the town. If they manage to do so, they may consider it to be a symbolic victory which may result in more humanitarian catastrophe.

A senior administration official confirmed the drop of supplies to the Kurdish forces. The Pentagon also said that most of the supplies dropped had reached its intended recipients. The official who spoke regarding the situation was instructed by the White House to speak on condition of anonymity. The U.S. Central Command issued a statement that, while American planes dropped the supplies, those had been provided by the Kurdish regional government in Iraq.

U.S. President Barack Obama earlier called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday and notified him on the airdrop plans, Fox News reported. However, it was not revealed how Erdogan had reacted to the notification. However, the United States was aware that Turkey considered Kurdish forces as its enemy and would be against any move to help the Kurds. The airdrop was called as a humanitarian action. A U.S. official said that Kurds could be massacred if IS militants managed to capture Kobani. Another official indicated that there could be more such drops to help the Kurdish forces. According to the Turkish government, the Kurdish forces have close connection with a terrorist organisation in Turkey.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au