Isis militants are locked in a fierce battle with Kurdish fighters for the northern Syrian town of Kobane just a day after the Turkish Prime Minister vowed to do everything possible to keep it from falling into the hands of the Islamists. This morning, Isis were reportedly just a few kilometres away from the strategically important town  with witnesses reporting smoke rising from buildings as the town came under shell and mortar fire. Turkey now appears poised to be drawn into the ground conflict with armoured personnel carriers, tanks and armoured vehicles deployed near the Syrian-Turkish border. Scroll down for video
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Kurdish fighters locked in fierce battle with Isis militants
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Militants reported a few kilometres from strategically important town
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Explosions and smoke seen as buildings are hit by mortar and shell fire
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Some 160,000 have fled town since Isis began its advance on September 16
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Turkey massing troops, tanks and armoured vehicles on the border
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Britain sends one of its most advanced warships to Gulf
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HMS Defender will U.S. aircraft carrier in fight against militants
Kobane
Isis launched an offensive to capture @placeholder On September 15 and have advanced steadily despite U.S.-led air strikes.
U.S.
Isis launched an offensive to capture Kobane On September 15 and have advanced steadily despite @placeholder-led air strikes.
Kobane
Isis launched an offensive to capture @placeholder On September 15 and have advanced steadily despite U.S.-led air strikes
U.S.
Isis launched an offensive to capture Kobane On September 15 and have advanced steadily despite @placeholder-led air strikes
U.S.
He said jihadis fired rockets on the town, and called on the @placeholder-led coalition 'to hit the tanks instead of bases'.
Turkish
Turkey
Turkish
Turkey
Syrian Kurdish refugees arriving by truck  at a @placeholder refugee camp after fleeing the city of Kobane
Britain
'This will be our primary role in the future, so to be able to provide the same defensive shield to a US navy aircraft carrier that we will deliver as part of a @placeholder carrier strike group is an excellent chance to prove the value we can add in a national and international environment.'
HMS Defender
'The ship's company of @placeholder can be proud that, in whatever they are doing on board, they are actively contributing to the security of the region and the interests of the United Kingdom.'