Obama vows to ‘degrade and ultimately destroy’ ISIL

President Barack Obama said in a nationally televised address Wednesday that he is ready to take action to “degrade and ultimately destroy” Islamic state militants who threaten the United States.

“I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,” the president said. “That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”

The Islamic state militants, whom Obama referred to as ISIL, have been seizing territories in Iraq and Syria over the last few months. They have also been growing in numbers and are notorious known for their brutality. Most recently, videotaped beheadings of two American journalists captured the public’s attention and raised awareness of the threat they pose.

SEE ALSO: ISIS beheads second US journalist, Steven Sotloff

During his 15-minute speech, which came on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the president laid out a counter-terrorism strategy to go after the Islamic state militants.

The strategy includes “a systematic campaign of airstrikes” against ISIL targets in Iraq as well as in Syria. This comes as Obama began ordering airstrikes in Iraq last month.

The president also wants to send an additional 475 service members to Iraq. He insisted during his speech that these American forces “will not have a combat mission.” Instead, he said one of their main roles will be to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment.

Obama’s counter-terrorism strategy also includes asking Congress to approve “additional authorities and resources” to train rebel forces in Syria. In addition, the president said he plans to seek help from other countries to go after ISIL and that he wants to continue providing humanitarian assistance to people who’ve been displaced by ISIL.

Recognizing that many Americans are weary of war, Obama said he wants the American people to understand how this effort to go after ISIL will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil,” he said. “This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.”

SEE ALSO: President Obama orders airstrikes in Syria