An Iraqi soldier holds an Islamist State flag, after pulling it down during a military operation against Islamic State militants in Al-Qasar, southeast of Mosul, Iraq, November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani
Reuters: U.S. estimates 50,000 Islamic State fighters killed so far: U.S. official
The U.S. military believes that some 50,000 Islamic State fighters have been killed since the United States started battling the group more than two years ago, a senior U.S. military official said on Thursday, calling it a "conservative estimate."
The official, who spoke to Pentagon reporters on condition of anonymity, said the figure showed how the United States was effectively combating the group with U.S.-led coalition airpower and limited U.S. troop deployments in support of local forces.
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Update: US official: 50,000 Islamic State killed in wars to date (AP).
WNU Editor: Call me sceptical .... but this 50,000 number sounds like it was pulled from a hat.
