UK estimates more than 10,000 Daesh militants fighting in Iraq

Published October 20th, 2015 - 02:50 GMT
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said his country estimates another 80,000 non-Daesh opposition fighters fighting in Syria. (Twitter)
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said his country estimates another 80,000 non-Daesh opposition fighters fighting in Syria. (Twitter)

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says between 10,000 and 13,000 ISIL (Daesh) militants are active in Iraq.

Hammond also noted that excluding ISIL and al-Nusra militants, there are also about 80,000 militants fighting in neighboring Syria.

"It is estimated ... that there are 10,000 to 13,000 active ISIL fighters in Iraq," he told lawmakers.

Asked about the presence of militants in Syria, he said: "The non ISIL, non al-Nusra part of the opposition probably amounts to around 80,000 fighting across the country. That is the latest estimate that I have," he added.

This article has been modified from the source material.

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