Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday turned a blind eye on the massacre happening just across the Turkish border as Islamic State militants continue their bloody advance against Kurdish militiamen holed up in the Syrian city of Kobani.

The Turkish government has long been accused of hesitating to confront, even of supporting, the Islamic State fighters that have besieged Kobani in the past three weeks. Turkish forces deployed just a stones' throw away from Syria's border watch unmoved as the Islamist group shelled the poorly defended city.

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Overwhelmingly outgunned, the Kurdish fighters have continuously pleaded with the Turkish government to open its borders for reinforcement arms and forces.

Just this week, People's Protection Units' (YPG) leaders appealed for Ankara's government to let other Syrian fighters cut-off from Kobani join the Kurdish ranks via the Turkish border, TIME reported.

Erdogan responded Tuesday that Turkey will deny support for Kobani forces so long as the United States refuse to arm rebel troops fighting to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the New York Times reported.

Political analyst Atilla Yesilada of the Global Source Partners sees opportunism and fear played out in the streets of Kobani.

Yesilada explains that Erdogan is fearful of taking any action against the Islamic State militants as this may draw retaliation from jihadists operating in Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Turkish government sees Kobani as leverage against YPG whom they largely see as Kurdish separatists working with long-time arch foe Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), TIME reported.

Erdogan's refusal to help angered the United States, which has been eager to see Turkey take military action against the Islamic State militants.

A senior administration official who requested to speak on condition of anonymity told The New York Times that there is a growing angst in Washington over the inaction of Turkey, a NATO ally, in the wake of human catastrophes unfolding less than a mile from its border.

Ultimately, Washington sees Ankara as a vital component of the war against the Islamic State.  President Barack Obama recently appointed retired Gen. John R. Allen to urge Turkey to take on Islamic State militants in Syria.

TagsRecep Tayyip Erdogan, Kobani, Islamic State in Syria