Faster progress needed against ISIS: Barack Obama

Washington: US President Barack Obama said on Monday that Islamic State militants had lost swaths of territory they once controlled in Iraq and Syria but that progress needed to be made faster against the group.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Obama said he had tasked Defence Secretary Ash Carter with going to the Middle East to secure more military contributions for the coalition fight against the group also known as ISIL.

"We recognise that progress needs to keep coming faster," Obama said.