Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria now have about 20,000 to 31,500 fighters on the ground, the CIA said on Thursday, much higher than a previous estimate of 10,000.
Among those in Syria are 15,000 foreign fighters including 2,000 Westerners, some of whom have joined IS, a U.S. intelligence official told.
The figures were revealed one day after President Barack Obama vowed to expand an offensive against IS extremists, a plan which foresees new air strikes against IS in Syria, expanded attacks in Iraq and new support for Iraqi government forces.
“CIA assesses the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS) can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria, based on a new review of all-source intelligence reports from May to August,” CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said in a statement.
“This new total reflects an increase in members because of stronger recruitment since June following battlefield successes and the declaration of a caliphate, greater battlefield activity, and additional intelligence,” he said.
Pressure on Turkey The estimates came on a day the U.S. was pressing Turkey to harden its borders against fighters and funding flowing to the IS.
Turkey has resisted publicly endorsing a new global strategy to defeat the Islamic State, which has kidnapped 49 Turkish citizens, including some diplomats.
Secretary of State John Kerry met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for the third time this month on Friday. But the U.S. is being careful to not push Turkey too hard as it grapples with trying to free its hostages.
