DHAKA: The Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria group has lost control of ‘25 to 30’ percent of the territory it holds in Iraq after coalition air strikes and an Iraqi offensive.

The Pentagon said Monday, The Straits Times publishes this report on Tuesday.

The radical group took control of large swathes of the north and western parts of the country months ago after an offensive and the collapse of Iraqi military units.

Following months of an air campaign by a US-led coalition and a rallying of Iraqi forces, the ISIS grip on parts of the country is fading, the Pentagon claims.

‘ISIL is now being slowly pushed back,’ said Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren.

‘Iraqi security forces and coalition airpower have unquestionably inflicted some damage on ISIL,’ he said using another acronym for IS.

BDST: 1525 HRS, APR 14, 2015
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