Beirut, Sep 24 (IANS/EFE): Fighter planes flying from Turkey struck positions of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group in northern Syria Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

The raids took place at dawn in the vicinity of Kobani in the largely Kurdish-populated region which is a major IS stronghold.

NATO maintains a large airbase in Turkey at Incirlik but the nationality of the warplanes was not immediately clear.

Quoting witnesses in the area, the London-based NGO which monitors the conflict in Syria said the planes were from the US-led international coalition which is fighting to “degrade and destroy” the IS in Syria and Iraq.

The raids targeted IS supply lines and other positions between 30 and 35 km from Kobani.

In a related development, heavy fighting between the jihadis and Kurdish forces was reported early Wednesday around 10 km from the city.

Last week, the IS launched an offensive to seize control of Kobani and its environs, forcing more than 200,000 people to seek refuge in Turkey.

On Monday, the IS began airstrikes on the IS in Syria, along with warplanes from nations which have joined the US-led coalition.