US estimates 50,000 Islamic State fighters killed so far : US official

The US 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.

The US 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 in Iraq and Syria, a senior US military official said on Thursday, calling it a “conservative estimate.”

At least 50,000 Islamic State jihadists have been killed by the US-led coalition since it began operations in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters File Photo)

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 US-led coalition airpower and limited US troop deployments in support of local forces.