Pentagon says Islamic State is losing the ground from under its feet in Iraq

#ISIS #Pentagon #BarackObama #HaiderAlAbadi #Iraqiforces #airstrikes Pentagon is of the opinion that the tide is turning against the Islamic State (IS) and it has lost more than a quarter of its territory in Iraq after the US-led coalition air campaign began in August. This has been reported in bbc.com dated 14 April 2015.
Col Steve Warren, a spokesman of Pentagon, has remarked that it was too early to assess whether the tide was really turning, but it is a fact that the US-led coalition air strikes and attacks carried out by the Iraqi ground forces had inflicted some damage.

Pentagon has quantified the loss sustained by IS by quoting some figures - IS had lost approximately 25% to 30% of its territory in Iraq in the past eight months, which was the equivalent of 12,950 to 15,540 sq km (5,000 to 6,000 sq miles).
It has lost territory in locations like Mosul Dam, Zummar and the vicinity of Sinjar Mountain. And, as a result, its frontline had been pushed either west or south, depending on location, in the provinces of Irbil, Babil, Baghdad and Kirkuk.
AS far as its presence in Syria, its gains in Suweida, Damascus Countryside and Homs provinces have been offset by losses in the provinces of Aleppo and Hassakeh.
It may be recalled that the IS had taken over large swathes of northern and western Iraq last June and it is gradually realizing that its losses are far more than gains and, they can be wiped out of history very soon. Evil forces cannot last forever.
The announcement of Pentagon came just before the talks to be held between Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and President Barack Obama in Washington.

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America in jitters over the beheading of James Foley by IS militants

IS militants demanded ransom of $132.5m for release of American journalist James Foley, US refused to pay, and the militants beheaded James Foley and publicized their actions via the internet news.sky.com.
This has sent jitters to Americans and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has admitted that the airstrikes by US on selected ISIS targets have checked the IS advance, but has also cautioned that IS would regroup and stage a new offensive. In his opinion, it is more than a simple traditional "terrorist group" because it appears to be better armed, trained and funded than any recent threat.
In his words, they have combined ideology and a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess and are tremendously well funded.
It seems Islamic State (IS) fighters who beheaded American journalist James Foley had demanded $132.5m for his release. Two anonymous American officials have indicated that the ransom demands were sent via emails to the family of James Foley in Rochester, New Hampshire.
It has also transpired that the US - unlike several European countries that have given millions to the terror group to spare their citizens - refused to pay resulting in the gruesome murder. The beheading was captured on a video and the group says it was acting in retaliation for US airstrikes in Iraq.
Despite the threats of ISIS that they would kill a second US captive if attacks go on, American airstrikes have continued against IS forces in northern Iraq. US Navy fighters and drones have extended air cover to Iraqi and Kurdish forces to try and retake and maintain control of the strategically important Mosul Dam. Incidentally, the US has carried out 90 airstrikes in Iraq since August 8, with 57 of them in support of Iraqi government forces near the dam.
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