NewsThe amount of territory controlled by the Islamist militant group, the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), has shrunk by 16 percent so far this year, according to new research from IHS Markit. Research by the organization showed that the group is losing more of its territory – which it calls a caliphate, or religious state – year-on-year. Then in the first nine months of 2016, that territory shrunk again by a further 16 percent. As of October 3 2016, the Islamic State controlled roughly 65,500 sq kilometres in Iraq and Syria, which is roughly the size of Sri Lanka, IHS Markit noted. The last time IHS' Conflict Monitor assessed the size of ISIS' territory on July 4, it controlled an area the size of Ireland, or roughly 68,300 sq kilometres.

Source: Sunday Times October 10, 2016 11:03 UTC