US-led forces conduct 20 air strikes against Islamic State

WASHINGTON - The United States and partner nations have conducted 20 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since Wednesday, the US Central Command said on Friday.

Five of six air strikes by US military forces in Syria targeted the contested city of Kobani near the border with Turkey, Centcom said in a statement. Those destroyed six Islamic State fighting positions and a heavy weapon, it said.

In Iraq, US and partner nations conducted 14 air strikes, mostly targeting areas in the oil-producing north of the country controlled by Islamic State.

Four air strikes near al-Qaim destroyed checkpoints, armored vehicles, bunkers, fortifications and a tactical unit, the US military said. Others were directed at Islamic militants targets near Kirkuk, Samarra, Tal Afar and Falluja.

Two air strikes near Mosul destroyed 11 bunkers, nine heavy weapons, a vehicle and hit two Islamic State units, Centcom said.