Kobani, where tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes, endured some of its "fiercest fighting in days" over the weekend as the battle between regional Kurds and ISIS forces extends into its fourth week. In what's been described as a crucial symbolic measure, the U.S. dropped 27 bundles of supplies to support the Syrian Kurds fighting the Islamic State militants.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters that ISIS fired 44 mortars into Kobani on Saturday; four more were fired Sunday. Last week, it appeared the the town was on the brink of being captured by ISIS—increased airstrikes (135 in the past two weeks, the New York Times reports) in the region have apparently pushed backed their forces.

"Combined with continued resistance to ISIS on the ground, indications are that these strikes have slowed ISIS advances into the city, killed hundreds of their fighters and destroyed or damaged scores of pieces of ISIS combat equipment and fighting positions," CENTOM said in a statement to the BBC. "But Kobani could still fall."

Turkey's resistance to lend further military support in the conflict has been a point of contention for the United States, but the BBC reports today "a surprise and a significant shift": Turkey will allow Kurdish forces to enter the country, its foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, announced. "Turkey has no wish see Kobane fall," he told the BBC.

[Image via AP]