U.N. WARNS LOSSES BY ISLAMIC STATE SHOULDN’T LEAD TO COMPLACENCY

United Nations — The U.N. counter-terrorism chief warned Monday that recent losses by Islamic State extremists “should not lead to complacency at any level,” saying the extremist group remains a global threat with up to 18,000 militants in Iraq and Syria. Vladimir Voronkov also told the Security Council that the Islamic State group is reported to have created a network of cells in various cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, and is closely linked to its leaders in Syria and Iraq. He said the Islamic State’s “center of gravity” remains in Iraq and Syria, where it reportedly controls between 14,000 and 18,000 militants, and its central leadership maintains “an intent to generate internationally directed attacks.”