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CIA triples estimate of ISIS fighters

by IBNS 12 Sep 2014, 12:57 pm

Washington, Sept 12 (IBNS) With US President Barack Obama vowing to 'destroy' ISIS militants, the CIA assessment has put the number of the group's fighters at 31,500 across Iraq and Syria.

The terror group that calls itself the Islamic State "can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria," a CIA spokesman told CNN on Thursday.

Analysts and U.S. officials had earlier estimated that there were probably 10,000 fighters.

"This new total reflects an increase in members because of stronger recruitment since June following battlefield successes and the declaration of a caliphate, greater battlefield activity and additional intelligence," the spokesman told the news channel.

 On Wednesday, Obama had said: "Our objective is clear:  We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy."