Beirut, Oct 14 (IANS/EFE): Warplanes of the US-led international coalition have struck several oil refineries under the control of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zur bordering Iraq, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Tuesday.

Four airstrikes set fire to the refineries located in the al-Mazra area near al-Mayadin city controlled by the jihadis.

The London-based NGO said that some of the targeted refineries were operated by civilians, not the IS.

In a related development, coalition aircraft attacked IS positions in the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobane, on the border with Turkey and which has been the scene of heavy fighting for weeks.

The planes targeted the Kane Arabane neighbourhood along with other areas in the eastern part of the city. A cultural centre under the control of the jihadis and the vicinity of al-Horiya Square were also hit.

The coalition strikes are in support of Kurdish irregulars fighting the jihadis in bloody street battles which began when the IS first attacked Kobane almost a month ago.