ISIS has lost 10,000 fighters so far in air campaign, U.S. says
Reuters | Posted: June 3, 2015 3:29 PM | Last Updated: June 3, 2015
ISIS remains resilient and capable of taking the initiative, U.S. official says in Paris
More than 10,000 Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters have been killed since the international coalition started its campaign against the militant group nine months ago, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.
Speaking after the coalition met in Paris, he said there had been a great deal of progress in the fight against ISIS but that the group remained resilient and capable of taking the initiative.
"We have seen a lot of losses within Daesh since the start of this campaign, more than 10,000," Blinken said on France Inter radio, using a mildly derogatory term for ISIS. "It will end up having an impact."
On Tuesday, Western and Arab states carrying out air strikes on ISIS fighters backed Iraq's plan for retaking territory after being accused by the Iraqi premier of not doing enough to help Baghdad push back the insurgents.
"At the start of this campaign (we) said it would take time," he said. "We have conceived a three-year plan and we're nine months into it."