said that he would be making a major announcement about the caliphate very soon. the caliphate of course is the territory controlled by islamic state since 2014, it was large swathes of iraq and syria and 110w large swathes of iraq and syria and now they are down to one last mile and syria and once that is gone, it matters. the caliphate is magnet, this lodestone and which was attracting is a must in the region, indeed the world, foreign fighters streaming into iraq and syria. but the problem is that islamic state is not just about territory, it is the problem is that islamic state is notjust about territory, it is this powerful idea which bet on local grievances in iraq and syria and those grievances have not gone away and for that matter, there are thousands of islamic state fighters. last year alone, they carried out hundreds of attacks in iraq and also dozens hundreds of attacks in iraq and also d oze ns of hundreds of attacks in iraq and also dozens of assassinations. us
the american vice president mike pence says the islamic state group in iraq and syria has been decimated. he was speaking after a commander with kurdish forces fighting is, claimed that within a few days they d be able to announce the end of the group s existence. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is at the security conference in munich, where the us vice president was speaking. the caliphate has crumbled. its last piece in this small syrian town of baghuz. and this, their last stand. gunfire these pictures are said to be filmed by islamic state fighters, but they are under fire on all sides, from kurdish forces, backed by american firepower. translation: the area that is is still in is around 700 metres and they are surrounded. the delay to us storming the neighbourhood is due to the presence of civilians, who the terrorists use as human shields. as local forces advanced, frightened families flee. amongst them are believed to be is fighters on the run. a far
the battle to claim the last pocket of territory from the islamic state group is being held up because thousands of civilians remain trapped there. us backed kurdish forces launched an attack on is‘s last remaining stronghold last week. the american vice president mike pence says is in iraq and syria has been decimated. he told a security conference in munich that the final battle is now under way. the united states will keep a strong presence in the region. we recognise it will not be enough to simply reclaim the territory of the caliphate. as we enter this new phase, the united states will continue to work with all our allies to hunt down the remnants of isis whenever and wherever they rear their ugly head. mike pence. well, the cbs correspondent charlie dagata is in syria and sent this report from the front line. gunfire. the final battle is in its final days with isis pinned down to an area of around a quarter of a square mile that s the update we got today from the c
now on bbc hello and welcome to bbc world news. news, the battle to claim the last pocket the week in of territory from parliament. the islamic state group is being held up because thousands of civilians remain trrapped there. us backed kurdish forces launched an attack on is‘s last remaining stronghold last week. the american vice president, mike pence says is in iraq and syria has been decimated. he told a security conference in munich that the final battle is now under way. the united states will keep a strong presence in the region. we recognise it will not be enough to simply reclaim the territory of the caliphate. as we enter this new phase, the united states will continue to work with all our allies to hunt down the remnants of isis whenever and wherever they rear their ugly head. well the cbs correspondent charlie d agata is in syria and sent this report from the front line. the final battle is in its final days, with isis pinned down to an area of around a quarter
with kurdish forces fighting is claimed that within a few days they d be able to announce the end of the group s existence. just four years ago is controlled vast areas of syria and northern iraq. it had taken control of raqqa and mosul. but the group s so called caliphate has continued to shrink since then, and is now less than one small square kilometre on the euphrates river. the last militants there are reportedly retreating and hiding among the local population. our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, has this report. the caliphate has crumbled. its last piece in this small syrian town of baghuz. and this, their last stand. these pictures are said to be filmed by islamic state fighters, but they are under fire on all sides, from kurdish forces, backed by american firepower. translation: the area that is is still in is around 700 metres and they are surrounded. the delay to us storming the neighbourhood is due to the presence of civilians, who the terrorists u