Between lulls in the fighting, screams can be heard in Kobane

The battle for the city of Kobane in Syria continues as Kurdish defenders fight to the last bullet against the Islamic State. Survivors who have escaped across the Turkish border have told reporters of beheadings, mutilations, and other atrocities committed by Islamic State fighters who continue to pour into the town despite Coalition airstrikes.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - If you are close to the fighting you will notice the shooting isn't constant. There are plenty of lulls as both sides attempt to outmaneuver one another between the closely crowded houses and buildings that make the town of Kobane. During these quiet lulls, the piercing cries of screams can occasionally be heard. They are the screams of people being butchered alive by Islamic State terrorists.

Survivors report people having their eyes and tongues cut out, beheadings, and other forms of torture including rapes. Heads and other body parts including hands and feet are being displayed as intimidation against the Kurdish fighters who are running out of ammunition.

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Survivors say the defenders as well as the several hundred residents who remain, are consuming old, stale bread and the last of their food stockpiles. Even water is running out. At the current rate, the Kurdish fighters have days-at most, before they are finally overrun by the Islamic State.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State continues to pull reinforcements from across its territory and feeding them into the town. Coalition airstrikes have slowed their advance and survivors report that the reinforcements are easier to kill because they are inexperienced. 

This suggests the Islamic State has sacrificed some of its better troops in the town and is replacing them with fodder.

Regardless of the level of experience the new recruits have, they will win as soon as the Kurdish defenders expend the last of their ammunition. It is now just a matter of time.

Woe to those who remain sheltered in the town, afraid to take flight through the crossfire. When the Islamic State finds these people, they will simply be killed. At least one man said he phoned his cousin in the town and that an Islamic State fighter answered, explaining they had captured the owner. He said they subsequently beheaded his cousin.

As all this happens, visitors from the Turkish side of the border visit to watch the battle as it rages. Coalition airstrikes happen throughout the day, adding to the spectacle. Many take video and pictures to share with their friends.

The combat now rages very close to the border and a lot of stray fire now lands on the Turkish side. Despite the savagery happening just yards away, Turkish troops remain in position. A row of tanks sits idle, a warning to both Kurds and Islamic State fighters that neither are welcome across the border.

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Still, locals report that terrorists stream through Turkish border towns to join the Islamic State, which is continually being refreshed with new fighters.

Far to the south, Islamic State fighters threaten the suburbs of Baghdad. Coalition troops are stationed there along with 60,000 Iraqi Army soldiers. Experts remain skeptical that the Islamic State will actually attempt to take Baghdad, however they can launch terror attacks into the city to kill dozens of people per day. Calls for U.S. troops to be sent into combat against the Islamic State have become more strident, but President Obama appears to be firmly against issuing such an order.

For now, nobody but the Kurds seem really determined to fight the Islamic State on the ground, and this is a death sentence for the defenders and people of Kobane.

Most of these people now have just hours to live.

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