U.S. diplomatic officials said Thursday says Coalition fighting ISIS has killed more than 6,000 fighters, including half of the top command of the terror group, CNN reports.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones made this known when he told Al Arabiya television earlier in the day that an estimated 6,000 fighters have been killed. Jones said the military effort was having a "devastating" impact on ISIS.
Although its calculated based on estimate by U.S. Central Command based on number of ISIS fighters killed in Iraq and Syria by coalition airstrikes, according to a U.S. military official. CENTCOM has kept a running estimate of fighters killed, but has not made it public.
U.S. intelligence estimates that ISIS has a total force of somewhere between 9,000 to 18,000 fighters. However, it is also believed the group can draw on thousands of other fighters whose loyalty shifts and could muster a force upwards of 31,000 total.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, would not confirm the 6,000 deaths estimate, instead saying "thousands" have been killed.
On whether the body count is a sign of progress, Hagel said, "It's a measure but I don't think it's the measure."
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