In Syria and Iraq, an estimated 8,000 of Islamic State's roughly 18,000 fighters have been wiped out by a pounding airstrike campaign by the US-led coalition and Kurdish militias ISIS is crumbling thanks to air strikes and the heroic efforts of Brit-trained Kurd fighters, claims a top Army officer. However, the murderous terror group's sickening ideology is still a threat to the UK because there are an estimated 3,000 home-grown extremists willing to carry out atrocities on our streets. In Syria and Iraq, an estimated 8,000 of Islamic State's roughly 18,000 fighters have been wiped out by a pounding airstrike campaign by the US-led coalition and Kurdish militias. The RAF alone is believed to have killed 330 Islamic State militants since the campaign began and British special forces are training the Kurds. A source in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria told the Mirror: "Things are changing. "Here people are starting to rebel. Little things in the streets. They talk back to the religious police, even alcohol is being made in private. "It wasn't like this one month ago. I think they (ISIS) are starting to struggle, particularly here. "The airstrikes are causing them problems, they struggle to operate in the open, the executions are less regular." Now a British Brigadier James Learmont says the group's "aura of invincibility" is falling away. He told the Sun: "The tide of the battle is turning against IS. People recognise that they can be defeated and I think people now know that they will ultimately be defeated." An analysis of jihadist activity seen by the Times states that the number of violent suspects being monitored by security services has jumped by half since 2007, when 2,000 people were classified as Al-Qaeda supporters. In an interview with BBC radio yesterday, MI5 Director General Andrew Parker said Britain was facing its most serious terrorism threat since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and had foiled six attempted attacks in the last year. "It represents a threat which is continuing to grow largely because of the situation in Syria and how that affects our security," Parker said. It was also reported that there is 'significant overlap' between Islamist terror suspects and mental illness. In August last year, Britain raised its terrorism threat level to "severe", the second highest category which means a militant attack is considered highly likely. It was largely due to the danger the authorities say is posed by Islamic State (IS) fighters and the hundreds of Britons who have joined them.
