Iraqi military says there are still hundreds of IS fighters active in country

The Islamic State group still has up to 500 active fighters in Iraq, a senior military official estimates, in the country where jihadist cells continue to launch sporadic attacks.

But Iraqi General Qais al-Mohamadawi, part of the anti-jihadist coalition, stresses that IS — now based in remote desert and mountain hideouts — has “lost its ability to attract new recruits.”

Mohamadawi, deputy commander of the Iraqi operations unit working with the international anti-jihadist coalition, says that hundreds of IS fighters remain active in Iraq.

“According to information from intelligence agencies, the total number of IS members does not exceed 400 to 500 fighters, in three or four provinces,” he tells a press conference.

The group has “lost its ability to attract new recruits,” he adds, also pointing to a February 26 military operation that had killed 22 IS members and destroyed a “training camp” in Al-Anbar province.