ISIL lost 5,000 square miles of territory largely in Northern Syria, Iraq

I hope that is true ISIL lost 5,000 square miles of territory largely in Northern Syria, Iraq SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. Since ISIL's influence is primarily an ideological one taking territory from them has less influence than un-brainwashing the adherents to their ideology who remain in the territory taken from ISIL.
I certainly hope and pray that many of the people in that 5,00 square miles have been disillusioned from the ideological grip that ISIL held by fear or genuine belief. I hope that most of those will never go back to that ideology.

My apologies for this comment but my first thought when I read that was, "did they have a sand storm?"