Note of warning as IS loses territory

The Islamic State group has been eroded but its ability to mount devastating attacks on the West remains very real, defense and security experts say.

As France prepares to mark the anniversary of the Paris attacks by the group on Nov 13, analysts say military defeats in its strongholds in Iraq and Syria will almost certainly not make its Western targets any safer.

"Depriving ISIS of control over population centers and sanctuary to raise funds and train fighters, and breaking it up as key organization, matters," said Anthony Cordesman of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, using another name for the group.