Islamic State Has 'Not Been Vanquished', Says Foreign Secretary

Damascus was declared free of IS in May (Picture: PA).

Jeremy Hunt has warned so-called Islamic State has "not been vanquished", as it emerged an estimated 180 jihadis and fighters with UK links are believed dead.

The Foreign Secretary said the terror group, also referred to as Daesh, has been driven from almost all of its territory in Syria and Iraq but has responded by evolving into a covert terrorist network.

Mr Hunt also repeated United Nations estimates that around 20,000 IS fighters remain in Syria and Iraq, with citizens of many countries among them. He said:

"The point I wish to emphasise today is Daesh has not been vanquished and the root causes of its emergence have yet to be resolved.

"Britain shares the assessment of the Secretary-General's report that Daesh is responding to the loss of territory by evolving into a covert terrorist network, with branches as far apart as Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen."

He restated United Nations estimates that around 20,000 IS fighters remain in Syria and Iraq, with citizens of many countries among them.

Mr Hunt said around 900 people with links to the UK travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq.

He added: "About 40% returned to the UK in the early days of Daesh's so-called caliphate and some 20% are believed dead."

The Foreign Secretary highlighted British efforts to identify anyone at risk of radicalisation and try to reintegrate them into society.

Jeremy Hunt urged other nations to "press on" with military action against IS and renew the focus on prevention by addressing the root causes which led to the emergence of the extremist group.

It follows the release of an audio message by IS allegedly of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - the first such recording to emerge in almost a year.