Syrian activists say first Kurdish peshmerga fighters have started entering Kobani from Turkey

A Turkish military helicopter lands near a staging area where Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters are stationed on the outskirts of Suruc, near the Turkey-Syria border, across from the Syrian town of Kobani, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Ten Iraqi peshmerga fighters entered the northern Syrian border town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, crossing over from Turkey on Thursday, the first from among a group of 150 Kurdish troops on their way into the embattled city.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

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A man crosses a road along with a horse and dog near a staging area where Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters are stationed on the outskirts of Suruc, near the Turkey-Syria border, across from the Syrian town of Kobani, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Ten Iraqi peshmerga fighters entered the northern Syrian border town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, crossing over from Turkey on Thursday, the first from among a group of 150 Kurdish troops on their way into the embattled city.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

A man uses a cell phone sitting in a Turkish armored vehicle outside a staging area where Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters are stationed on the outskirts of Suruc, near the Turkey-Syria border, across from the Syrian town of Kobani, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Ten Iraqi peshmerga fighters entered the northern Syrian border town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, crossing over from Turkey on Thursday, the first from among a group of 150 Kurdish troops on their way into the embattled city.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

SURUC, Turkey – Activists say 10 Iraqi peshmerga fighters have entered a northern Syrian border town, the first from among a group of 150 Kurdish troops on their way into the embattled Kobani.

Kobani-based activist Musrafa Bani says 10 fighters entered the town. He says the rest will follow gradually on Thursday because the border crossing point has been targeted by Islamic State fighters.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also says the first group of 10 peshmerga fighters entered Kobani around noon through the Turkey-Syria border crossing.

The mission of the peshmerga troops is to help Kurdish fighters inside Kobani try to break a siege by Islamic State militants.

The peshmerga fighters' push into Kobani followed heavy overnight clashes as Islamic State fighters unsuccessfully tried to capture the border crossing point.