Setbacks haven't weakened Islamic State strategically: UN

Threat posed by IS and its associates remains high and continues to diversify and the inflow of arms is a serious concern

The United Nations political chief says the Islamic State extremist group hasn't been weakened strategically or irreversibly despite military setbacks in Iraq and Syria.

Jeffrey Feltman told the UN Security Council, on Wednesday, that the threat posed by IS and its associates "remains high and continues to diversify" and the inflow of arms and ammunition into territory held by the group remains a serious concern.

He said the military setbacks in Syria and Iraq "could be one of the factors behind the marked increase in the rate of returnee foreign terrorist fighters."

As a result of the setbacks, Feltman said, IS may also be moving to a new phase, elevating the role of its affiliates, moving funds out of conflict areas "and increasing the risk of complex, multi-wave and international attacks.