Kurdish fighters have launched an unlikely comeback against Islamic State terrorists besieging the Syrian town of Kobane, amid claims the resistance forces have now reclaimed swathes of the city.

Images this morning showed Kurdish YPG soldiers triumphantly raising their flag above Tel Shair hill in the west of the city, where ISIS' own black jihadist flag had recently been flying.

Assisted by sustained U.S. and Arab airstrikes, the massively outgunned Kurdish troops have managed to do what looking impossible only a week ago - force ISIS to abandon strategic locations in the west of Kobane and pin them back elsewhere in the city.

The news comes as the Kurdish forces aim to solidify their gains by rounding up hundreds of young men in the area around Kobane in order to press them into compulsory military service.

Meanwhile the U.S. has intensified airstrikes against ISIS targets in and around the city, carrying out 21 bombing raids over the last two days on vehicles and buildings in the terror group's hands.

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Joy: The sinister black flag of the Islamic State was torn down from Tel Shair hill near Kobani hill in a symbolic blow against the jihadis. It was replaced by the yellow flag of the Kurdish fighters

A Kurdish fighter plants the yellow Kurdish flag above Tel Shair hill after an ISIS flag that had been fluttering for more than a week was torn down

The area shaded purple shows the areas of Kobane currently under Kurdish control. The red dotted line shows the extent of their control on October 10, revealing exactly how much territory the YPG has reclaimed in the west of the city over the past five days. Despite the gains, ISIS is continuing to advance into eastern Kobane. The black arrows show where the militants are focussing the bulk of their attacks on the Kurds

Engulfed: A huge explosion in a village just outside Kobane sends a column of black smoke high into the air

Clouds: Smoke rises following an airstrike by the US-led coalition in Kobane, as seen from Mursitpinar on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border

This morning U.S President Barack Obama admitted that there will be no 'quick fixes' in the fight against ISIS, after meeting with the defense chiefs of 22 countries to coordinate strategy.

After emerging from the meeting at Andrews Air Force Base, the president said the mission 'is going to be a long-term campaign'.

'There will be days of progress and there are going to be periods of setback,' Mr Obama said.

His comments came as American and Arab warplanes dramatically increased the frequency of airstrikes against ISIS, carrying out a total of 22 bombing raids over the past two days.

Flee: Islamic State militants run for cover in the Syrian town of Kobane during a U.S.-led coalition airstrike

Despite Kurdish advances, ISIS' flag can still be seen raised over buildings inside Kobane this morning

Airstrikes have helped Kurdish fighters slow ISIS' advances, and in many areas of Kobane force the terrorists to abandon suburbs where they were free to rape and massacre battle ravaged locals

Choking: Thick black smoke rises after an American airstrike on an ISIS target inside Kobane this morning

Strike: Fighter jets flying in pairs continue to circle the rainy skies above Kobane hunting for ISIS targets below

Force: A fighter jet takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the Arabian Gulf to carry out an airstrike against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria

The strikes have helped Kurdish fighters slow ISIS' advances, and in many areas of Kobane force the terrorists to abandon suburbs where they were free to rape and massacre battle ravaged locals as recently the weekend.

Yesterday the sinister black flag of Islamic State seemingly disappeared from a flagpole on Gania Kurda hill in ISIS held territory in eastern Kobane. Meanwhile Kurdish fighters in the west of the city captured the strategic Tel Shair hill, which is where theoir flag was displayed today.

Fighter jets flying in pairs continue to circle the rainy skies hunting for Islamic State targets below.

News of the advances comes as police in Syria's self-ruled Kurdish areas rounded up hundreds of young men to press them into compulsory military service against the Islamic State.

The unprecedented move, criticized by human rights groups, underlines the desperation of Syria's Kurds as they fight off the extremist group close to the Turkish border.

Gathering: Unidentified men stand around chatting in the besieged Syrian city of Kobane earlier this morning

Unidentified people are seen inside the Syrian town of Kobane, as seen from near the border with Turkey

Gunman: An armed man crouches behind a wall in Kobane this morning. Cars and coaches with severe damage caused by ongoing are seen in the shot with him

Armed: A truck carrying a machine gun is seen parked by the roadside in Kobane earlier today

A group of unidentified men are seen walking through a Kobane backstreet earlier this morning

More than 550 people have been killed since the group began its offensive on the Kurdish town in mid-September, and the fighting has forced more than 200,000 people to flee into Turkey.

In majority Kurdish areas east of Kobane, Kurdish police forces known as Asayish began rounding up scores of people on Saturday, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The police then handed the men over to defense authorities who have detained them in schools in preparation for intensive military training.

Mustafa Osso, a senior member of the National Kurdish Council, said police set up checkpoints and raided homes, adding that they had so far detained some 700 men under the age of 30.

'This has a direct link to what is happening in Kobane,' Osso said, alluding to Kurdish fears of being overrun by the Islamic State group militants.

Deadly attacks have taken place in predominantly Kurdish areas outside Kobane, although there has not been sustained fighting.