Islamic State fighters prowl streets of Kobaine seeking victims as town falls (PHOTOS)

Islamic State fighters are tightening their grip on the town of Kobane, which despite major U.S. intervention, is about to fall. Turkish forces, which are literally in position to intervene have not budged to help and it is feared they will permit the Islamic State to destroy the village.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Islamic State fighters roam the outskirts and edges of Kobane, a Kurdish town in northern Syria on the border with Turkey. The fighters are prowling for victims to kill, specifically Kurdish fighters or civilians who are huddled in hiding from the terrorists.

The entire world seems idle as the United States and its coalition partners, bomb Islamic State fighting positions. It appears as though the world is simply waiting for American troops to enter the conflict on the ground, doing the heavy lifting for all sides.

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However, Obama has pledged to a war-weary public that American troops will not return to Iraq or operate in Syria.

Instead, the U.S. strategy has been to arm factions in Syria identified as "moderate" as well as the Kurds. The Turks, who have little affection for the Kurdish people, do not seem eager to enter the battle. Turkey's Kurdish population has long petitioned the government in Ankara for autonomy, a fact which has created significant problems for the country. The Turkish government could see the Islamic State as resolving one problem by diminishing the fighting capability of the Kurdish people.

For its part, the Islamic State is ruthless and Kurdish activists fear they will slaughter anyone they find. Islamic State fighters have been seen operating in plain clothes, taking positions near civilians in order to avoid Coalition airstrikes. They have also been known to fuel their soldiers with drugs to encourage them to fight more fearlessly.

The embattled Kurdish fighters, which includes women from their special brigades of female volunteers, have pledged to fight to the death as they run low on ammunition and supplies.

Why the Coalition has not set up a dead zone around the town, destroying any resupply efforts, remains an unanswered question. A few aircraft, even drones would likely be enough to shut down the flow of Islamic State reinforcements and supplies, giving the Kurds a fighting chance.

None of this appears in the offing. Instead, the Islamic State is tweeting their imminent victory in the town and many fear a slaughter will ensue. Capturing the town will give the Islamic State control of the border with Turkey extending for hundreds of miles, unbroken.

Despite the airstrikes of the United States and its Coalition allies, the Islamic State has hardly been slowed.

The fight continues, no end is within sight.

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