Islamic State fighters have taken over control of a third of embattled Kobani on Thursday after forcing Kurdish forces to mount a desperate defense of the city despite relentless U.S. airstrikes.

Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, the Islamic State has now seized the entire east Kobani, while continuing its advance northeast and southeast of the city.   

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Leaders of the heavily outgunned Kurdish forces, which according to the United Nations have been reduced to only about a few hundred, said the jihadist group has gained the largest advance Thursday in the street fights that began three weeks ago.

Heavy shelling of Kobani raged on, with rocket explosions rocking the beleaguered town throughout Thursday. From across the Turkish border, smoke was seen rising up from Kobani where the jihadist black flag is now hoisted, Reuters reported.

While the world watches in horror as the Islamic State makes its lethal advance against the poorly defended city, Turkey sees an opportunity to negotiate with Washington for an expanded air campaign against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Washington and Pentagon officials warned Wednesday that airstrikes alone will not protect the Syrian town even as they rule out deploying ground forces in Syria.

Meanwhile, the Turkish government, who has stationed its military forces just across its border with Syria, insisted it is unrealistic to expect Turkey to cross into Syria to relieve the Kurdish town on its own.

In a statement, Turkish prime minister Mevlut Cavusoglu argued that once U.S. agrees to Turkish terms, including launching airstrikes against Assad, it will take on the Islamic State insurgents.

The condition infuriated both Washington and Kurds from within Turkey, according to various reports.

In Turkey, violent street protests erupted as Kurdish protesters accused the government of supporting the Islamic State's advance against Kobani. At least 22 people have died in clashes between riot police and Kurdish protesters that spread in many Turkish cities, including in Istanbul and Ankara, reported AFP. 

TagsKobani, Syrian airstrikes, Islamic State in Syria, Turkish Syrian border, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights