Islamic State battle could take years, Pentagon says

The fight against jihadist group Islamic State (IS) will take years, a US military spokesman has told the BBC.

Rear Admiral John Kirby also said that US-led air strikes against IS in Syria had disrupted the group's capabilities.

The remark came as President Barack Obama thanked Arab states for help and Secretary of State John Kerry said more than 50 nations had agreed to fight IS.

IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, and the US has launched nearly 200 air strikes in Iraq since August.

Tom Esslemont reports.