Islamic State: Obama says group is weakening but still a threat

US President Barack Obama says there have been gains against so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria but warned the group still poses a threat.

He said that as the group lost ground there were signs it was shifting to attacks abroad.
"The possibility of a lone actor or a small cell that kills people is real," he said, adding that networks in the US could be activated.
Mr Obama was giving an update to reporters after a Pentagon meeting.
While the militant group has been pegged back in Iraq and Syria, the group has carried out or claimed several high-profile attacks this year, such as in Iraq, France, Germany, Bangladesh and several other countries.
President Obama said it was important not to give in to fear.
"Isil can't defeat the United States of America or our Nato partners," he said, using an alternative acronym for Islamic State.
"We can defeat ourselves, though, if we make bad decisions."
The US recently stepped up its efforts against IS, bombing one of the group's strongholds in Libya on Monday after a request by the UN-backed government.