Pentagon: Islamic State loses ground in Iraq, gains in Syria

The Pentagon says that while Islamic State militants have lost control of up to 6,500 square miles (16,800 sq kilometers) in Iraq, they have gained a bit of ground in Syria since last August.
Army Col Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, says the front lines of the territory held by the Islamic State group have been pushed further south and west in Iraq.
But the militants still control land stretching from west and south of Sinjar down through Mosul and across Bayji.
A new map released by the Pentagon today shows that US and coalition forces regained territory near Tikrit, Sinjar Mountain and Mosul Dam.

Warren says while militants were driven out of Kobani, in Syria, they have maintained influence across the country and gained ground around Homs and Damascus.