Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby insisted that the figure is an estimate and not the key “metric of success,” but said coalition airstrikes and coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish forces have been effective in pushing back ISIS and putting the militant group on the defensive.
The number of ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria continues to fluctuate, but the deaths account for about 20 to 30% of the total ISIS force, based on Pentagon estimates that ISIS is about 20,000 to 30,000 fighters strong.
–
Kirby acknowledged that the U.S. is “mindful” that ISIS is still a “potent force” in both Iraq and Syria.
“This is going to continue to take some time,” he said.
