US mounts new strikes near Kurdish town

U.S. forces launched 18 airstrikes on Wednesday against fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) trying to seize the Kurdish town of Kobani.

ISIS fighters are advancing on the Kurdish-majority town in Syria, which is seven miles from the Turkish border.

{mosads}The latest actions occurred a day after the United States and its allies carried out 21 airstrikes on Monday and Tuesday. The anti-ISIS coalition has now conducted roughly 110 airstrikes near the besieged town since Sept. 23.

The attack “destroyed multiple ISIL fighting positions and successfully struck 16 ISIL occupied buildings,” U.S. Central Command officials said, using another name for the terrorist organization. The latest airstrikes included both fighter jets and bombers.

The escalated air campaign in and around the city comes amid mounting criticism of President Obama’s strategy against ISIS. The terror group has continued to make substantial gains in Iraq and Syria despite the airstrikes.

The White House, though, has defended the strategy, with press secretary Josh Earnest on Tuesday insisting the president’s plan against ISIS was “succeeding.”

“We’re in the early days of the execution of that strategy,” he said. “But certainly, the early evidence indicates that this strategy is succeeding.”

Some military officials have warned, though, that the terror group cannot be defeated without ground troops. President Obama has ruled out U.S. combat forces, and officials have raised doubts about Iraqi forces’ readiness.

The president himself admitted Tuesday that there would be setbacks in the fight against ISIS.

“This is going to be a long-term campaign; there are no quick fixes involved,” Obama said following a meeting with military chiefs from partner nations.