“伊斯兰国”在叙利亚和伊拉克失去大片控制范围

Military pressure against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has cost the terrorist group 22 percent of its territory in the past 15 months.

在过去15月内，“伊斯兰国”恐怖组织迫于的军事压力，在叙利亚和伊拉克失去22%的土地。

About half of the loss has happened since the beginning of this year.

自今年年初，该组织已失去近一半的土地。

Iraqi security forces take combat positions at the front-line with Islamic State group militants as Iraqi Army and allied Sunni volunteer tribal fighters supported by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. AP Photo.

The monitoring group IHS said the militants are, in its words, “increasingly isolated and being perceived as in decline.”

研究调研机构IHS称“恐怖分子会越来越被孤立并处于下降趋势。”

IHS said the terrorists have been pushed back in northern Syria between Raqqa -- claimed by the Islamic State -- and the Turkish border. Airstrikes by Russia and a coalition led by the United States have freed important border crossings. Kurdish and Sunni fighters have supported that coalition.

IHS表示，恐怖组织的控制范围已被缩小至叙利亚北部城市拉卡(“伊斯兰国”声称)和土耳其边境之间。在美俄联合空袭之下，重要的边境口岸已被解放。库尔德人和逊尼派武装分子参与了此次联合打击。

The Islamic State terrorist group controls only a small area of Syria, where it smuggles supplies and fighters from Turkey.

“伊斯兰国”恐怖组织控制了叙利亚一小片从土耳其走私物资装备的地方，

At the same time, pro-government forces in Iraq also regained territory. The army -- and Sunni and Shi’ite militias -- took back control of Ramadi.

同时，伊拉克亲政府派也收复了土地。军方，还有逊尼派和什叶派民兵组织收回了拉马迪市。

Iraq also plans to try to retake Mosul in the north. The militants have held the city for more than a year and a half.

伊拉克还计划夺回北部城市摩苏尔，恐怖分子已控制该城市一年半了。

The international community has noted the need for a unified fight against the Islamic State militants. It says if the Syrian government and rebels sign a peace agreement, their armies and weapons can be used in the fight against the IS militants.

国际社会已然认识到应该团结起来共同对抗“伊斯兰国”恐怖组织。如果叙利亚政府和反对派能达成和平协议，他们的武器装备即可用于打击恐怖分子。

Between 250,000 and 470,000 people have died in Syria -- and millions have fled the country -- in the past five years. There has been little progress to end the country’s civil war.

过去五年内，25万至47万人已经死于叙利亚，还有几百万人逃离了该国家。叙利亚内战一直未能结束。

UN-led peace talks were held in Geneva, Switzerland this week.

联合国主导的和平谈判于这周在瑞士日内瓦召开。

Islamic State Terrorists Lose Large Areas of Syria, Iraq

Military pressure against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has cost the terrorist group 22 percent of its territory in the past 15 months.

About half of the loss has happened since the beginning of this year.

The monitoring group IHS said the militants are, in its words, “increasingly isolated and being perceived as in decline.”

IHS said the terrorists have been pushed back in northern Syria between Raqqa -- claimed by the Islamic State -- and the Turkish border. Airstrikes by Russia and a coalition led by the United States have freed important border crossings. Kurdish and Sunni fighters have supported that coalition.

The Islamic State terrorist group controls only a small area of Syria, where it smuggles supplies and fighters from Turkey.

At the same time, pro-government forces in Iraq also regained territory. The army -- and Sunni and Shi’ite militias -- took back control of Ramadi.

Iraq also plans to try to retake Mosul in the north. The militants have held the city for more than a year and a half.

The international community has noted the need for a unified fight against the Islamic State militants. It says if the Syrian government and rebels sign a peace agreement, their armies and weapons can be used in the fight against the IS militants.

Between 250,000 and 470,000 people have died in Syria -- and millions have fled the country -- in the past five years. There has been little progress to end the country’s civil war.

UN-led peace talks were held in Geneva, Switzerland this week.

I’m Anne Ball.

Words in This Story

isolated – adj. separate from others

perceive – v. to notice or become aware of (something)

smuggle – v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

militia – n. a group of people who are not part of the armed forces of a country but are trained like soldiers