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

Western powers have become increasingly concerned at IS's growing presence in Libya

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.

As the jihadist group lost ground, he said, 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.
Separately, he strongly denied that a $400m (£305m) cash payment to Iran was a ransom for the release of American prisoners in January.
The White House provided extensive comments on the issue on Wednesday.

Speaking after the meeting with top military and national security officials on Thursday, Mr Obama said IS was "not invincible".
"In fact, they are inevitably going to be defeated," the president said, predicting that the jihadist group would lose its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa in Syria, in addition to their stronghold of Mosul in Iraq.