11th Sep 2014 09:46
WASHINGTON (Alliance News) - US President Barack Obama has said that the US will lead a broad coalition of nations to take the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and vowed to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group.
Obama used a prime-time speech Wednesday night to offer a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy to combat ISIS that includes US military action as well as provide support to Iraqi forces and Syrian rebels that are fighting the terrorists on the ground.
The president also said he is sending more US service members to Iraq as part of the strategy.
"Following consultations with allies abroad and Congress at home, I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat," he said in a nationally televised address at the White House.
"Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy."
Obama said that he will not hesitate to target the terrorists with airstrikes in Syria as well as in Iraq.
The Commander-in-Chief of the US forces did not say anything as to when to conduct these actions, but DoD News quoted a senior defense official as saying that "Decisions will be made at a prudent time as we continue to prosecute our comprehensive strategy against these ISIL terrorists."
The terrorist group, which calls itself the Islamic State and is also known as ISIS and ISIL, has seized control of parts of Iraq and Syria and is responsible for the beheading of two American journalists.
Obama made it clear that he was able to make this important announcement because Iraqis formed an inclusive government. Obama has been insisting that additional US action depended upon a new Iraqi government in place.
"ISIL poses a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, and the broader Middle East including American citizens, personnel and facilities," he said. Obama warned that if left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region including to the US.
Though there is no evidence of an attack planned on the US homeland, the president said, ISIL leaders have threatened America and its allies. "Our intelligence community believes that thousands of foreigners including Europeans and some Americans have joined them in Syria and Iraq. Trained and battle-hardened, these fighters could try to return to their home countries and carry out deadly attacks," he said.
In August, Obama had ordered limited US military airstrikes against ISIL to protect Americans and stop the ISIL advance into Iraq. Since then, US forces conducted more than 150 successful airstrikes in Iraq, which, according to him, "Have protected American personnel and facilities, killed ISIL fighters, destroyed weapons, and given space for Iraqi and Kurdish forces to reclaim key territory."
Obama said, "We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are."
The president called on Congress to give the US Government additional authorities and resources to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters as "In the fight against ISIL, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorizes its people."
Another front in the counterterrorism campaign is to work with allies and friends around the world to cut ISIL's funding, improve intelligence on the terror group and strengthen defenses.
Obama made it clear that this US effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil."
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