IS terror group now controls 'area the size of Britain'

A US counter-terrorism official says that IS terror group’s success in controlling several areas is due to Syria and Iraq governments’ weaknesses.

17:30 04 September 2014

Matthew Olsen, a US counter-terrorism official, has said that Isis now controls territory the size of the UK. He added that the group now makes £600,000 a day from selling oil and ransoming hostages and has a fighting force of 10,000 militants.

Mr Olsen continued saying that Islamic State, also known as Isis, was “an extremely dangerous organisation operating in a chaotic part of the world” and saw itself “as the new leader of the global Jihadist movement”.

However, he said that Isis will soon be defeated. “As formidable as [Isis] is as a group, it is not invincible. With a broad coalition of international partners, we have the tools to defeat [Isis] based on a determined and comprehensive all-of-government approach.”

Mr Olsen also issued warning that aside from Isis, other groups can also pose a threat to the west.

“[Isis] has captured our immediate focus, but it is only one of the myriad groups that pose a threat to us at the terrorist landscape evolves” he explained.