The Islamic State (ISIS) has
reportedly been dealt a devastating blow with more than 25,000 of its fighters
killed by coalition airstrikes over the past 20 months.
The air campaign has halved the
number of jihadists in ISIS-controlled Syria and Iraq and dozens of the terror
group's leaders have been eliminated, the Daily Express reports. Among the
casualties, the report says, was British executioner Mohammed Emwazi, aka
Jihadi John, who was killed during a drone strike.
Describing the status of the
terror group in a recent interview, the U.S. military spokesman for the
U.S.-led global coalition against ISIS, Col. Steve Warren said: "Much like
a boxer, Daesh (ISIS) has taken several hard blows to the midsection. We
believe the knees are getting weak, and the head is starting to drop, and they
are beginning to feel the effect of the exceptional pressure we've placed on
them over 20 months."