Coalition forces 'hitting IS harder than ever', says Obama

US and coalition forces are "hitting Isil harder than ever", President Barack Obama has said.

Mr Obama said nearly 9,000 strikes had been carried out against so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, with more bombs dropped in the past month than any other.

In a briefing at the Pentagon, he said the terror group's leaders were being taken out "one by one" and warned those still out there: "You are next."

The President said IS had not conducted a successful major ground operation in Syria or Iraq since the summer and it had lost about 40% of the populated areas it once controlled in Iraq.

"As we squeeze its heart, we'll make it harder for Isil to pump its terror and propaganda to the rest of the world," said Mr Obama.

He also revealed US defence secretary Ashton Carter is to travel to the Middle East to secure more military contributions to the fight.