blog archive

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Number of foreign fighters entering Iraq, Syria plummets: US general

© IS Raqqa/AFP/File | Islamic State recruits pictured marching in a video released by the militant group's official Al-Raqqa site
WASHINGTON (AFP) -  The number of foreign fighters entering Iraq and Syria has plummeted over the past year or so, a US general said Tuesday.
Major General Peter Gersten told Pentagon reporters that when he arrived in Baghdad about a year ago, between 1,500 and 2,000 foreign fighters were joining the Islamic State group's ranks each month.
"Now we have been fighting this enemy for a year, our estimates are down to 200 (per month) and we are actually seeing now an increase in desertion rates of these fighters," Gersten said.
© 2016 AFP

No comments:

Post a Comment