Russian General Staff Puts Number of Islamic State Militants at 70,000

The US previously provided Islamic State group with financial and technical aid to its struggle against the Syrian government, the chief of the Russian General Staff said.

The radical Islamic State group active in Iraq and Syria has up to 70,000 members according to Russia’s estimates, the chief of the Russian General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said Wednesday.
“According to our estimates, the Islamic State formations acting in Syria and Iraq comprise up to 70,000 militants of various nationalities,” he said. “At present, this group becomes a key element of radical Islam in the Middle East region and tends to grow further.”
Continue..