ISIS loses a third of its ‘caliphate’
January 5, 2016The Islamic State (ISIS) group has lost around a third of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, according to figures provided Tuesday by the US-led coalition.
“In Iraq, it’s about 40%,” said Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the international coalition which carries out daily air raids against ISIS, and also provides training and weapons to local forces fighting the group.
“In Syria…we think it’s around 20” percent, he said.
When the size of the so-called caliphate ISIS proclaimed 18 months ago was at its largest, Iraq accounted for a slightly bigger part of it than Syria.
“Taking together Iraq and Syria…they lost 30% of the territory they once held,” Warren told reporters in Baghdad.
Since taking control of Ramadi in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria in May 2015, ISIS has been on the back foot most of the time.
A variety of Iraqi forces – including the Kurdish peshmerga, the Shi’ite-dominated Popular Mobilization paramilitary force and the federal forces – have reclaimed major urban centers, including Ramadi last week.
Warren’s estimate appear to differ significantly from a figure of 14% provided by the IHS Jane’s think-tank, albeit predating the retaking of Ramadi.
AFP contributed to this report.
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