ISIL losing battle to forces in Iraq, Syria: US envoy

The United States and its allies claim that they have pounded at least 14 Daesh (ISIL) positions in Iraq and Syria, with a US official saying that the Takfiri group is losing the battle.

The US military said in a statement on Saturday that the international coalition against Daesh hit ISIL targets in Iraq with 12 strikes and conducted two attacks in Syria on Friday.

Two of the strikes in Iraq were near the western city of Ramadi, hitting two Daesh tactical units and a tunnel.

One of the attacks in Syria destroyed two Daesh fighting positions near Palmyra, according to the statement.

Addressing a press conference in Baghdad on Saturday, US envoy to the US coalition against Daesh, Brett McGurk claimed the terrorist group is losing a battle against forces arraigned against it in Iraq and Syria.

"Daesh is feeling pressure now from all simultaneous directions and that's going to continue .. that's going to accelerate," McGurk said.

"Daesh is losing; as they lose we focus increasingly on stabilization," he added.

McGurk , however, declined to put a timeline on when Daesh would be defeated.

SS