World Bulletin / News Desk

More than 10,000 ISIL fighters have been killed since the international coalition started its campaign against the militant group nine months ago in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Speaking after the coalition met in Paris, he said there had been a great deal of progress in the fight against ISIL but that the group remained resilient and capable of taking the initiative.

"We have seen a lot of losses within ISIL since the start of this campaign, more than 10,000,"  "It will end up having an impact."

On Tuesday, Western and Arab states carrying out air strikes on ISIL fighters backed Iraq's plan for retaking territory after being accused by the Iraqi premier of not doing enough to help Baghdad push back the insurgents.

"At the start of this campaign (we) said it would take time," he said. "We have conceived a three-year plan and we're nine months into it."