Islamic State caliphate shrinks a further 12 per cent in 2016

Islamic State performance assessment - January 2015 - July 2016. Credit: IHS

By: Wording OD.

Over the past 18 months, the Islamic State has continued to loose territory at an increasing rate. In 2015, the Islamic State’s caliphate shrunk by 12,800 km² to 78,000 km², a net loss of 14 percent. In the first six months of 2016, that territory shrunk again by 12 percent. As of 4 July 2016, the Islamic State controls roughly 68,300 km² in Iraq and Syria, which is roughly the size of Ireland or the US state of West Virginia.