A convoy of Kurdish Peshmerga troops departed from Turkey in a convoy overnight to help bolster Syrian Kurds holding out against self-styled Islamic State militants in the besieged town of Kobani.
Islamic State combatants have been trying to capture Kobani, known as Ayn al-Arab in Arabic, for over a month, pressing their assault despite U.S.-led air strikes on their positions and the deaths of hundreds of their fighters.
British hostage John Cantlie has appeared in another propaganda video released by Islamic State.
Wearing the same orange jumpsuit as in previous footage, the journalist warns of a "third Gulf war" and says the media has learnt nothing from previous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Cantlie, from Haslemere, Surrey, appears to be reading from a script and speaking under duress as he talks about the press fuelling support for a "full-blown war" for which IS is prepared.
The latest video appeared on YouTube but was later deleted.
Satellite images have revealed the destruction in and around the town of Kobani, on the Syrian border.
Members of a prominent motorcycle gang from Holland have reportedly joined forces with Kurdish troops in Iraq to fight IS militants.
The sister of a UK journalist being held by Islamic State militants has appealed for his captors to reopen dialogue aimed at freeing him.