Islamic State Attacking Kobani From Turkey

A Kurdish official and activists say extremists from the Islamic State group have launched an attack on the Syrian border town of Kobani from Turkey _ a first in the ongoing siege.

Nawaf Khalil, a spokesman for Syria's powerful Kurdish Democratic Union Party, says Islamic State group militants in Turkey attacked the border crossing point that links the country to Kobani.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Khalil said the offensive began with an armored vehicle suicide attack on the border crossing.

There was no immediate comment from Ankara.

The Islamic State group began its Kobani offensive in mid-September. The town later became the focus of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition against the militants.

The Observatory said the latest fighting has killed eight Kurdish fighters and 17 jihadis.