Iraq 'retakes 25% of Islamic State territory'

Islamic State (IS) has lost more than a quarter of its territory in Iraq since US-led coalition air strikes began in August, the Pentagon has said.

That equated to 12,950 to 15,540 sq km (5,000 to 6,000 sq miles), spokesman Col Steve Warren told reporters.
The combination of air power and Iraqi ground forces was affecting the group's ability to hold territory, he said.
The announcement came ahead of a meeting between Iraq's prime minister and Barack Obama in Washington.
Before leaving for the US, Haider al-Abadi made clear that he wanted the coalition to step up its air campaign against IS, which seized large swathes of Iraq last June after routing the Iraqi army.
He is also expected to press Mr Obama for billions of dollars of advanced US weaponry, including attack helicopters and surveillance drones.

'Damage inflicted'

While Col Warren told reporters in Washington on Thursday that IS had lost 25%-30% of territory.

He said that while it was too early to say the tide of the battle was turning in Iraq, coalition and government forces had "unquestionably inflicted some damage on [IS] and have pushed [IS] back in a somewhat meaningful way".