President Barack Obama updated Americans yesterday on the fight against the Islamic State, or ISIL, saying the group is being hit harder than ever by the U.S. and allies and is losing ground.
"As we squeeze its heart we'll make it harder for ISIL to sell its propaganda to the world," Obama said, after a meeting with the National Security Council at the Pentagon, reports abc News. Obama usually meets the National Security Council at the White House, and the last time he had travelled to the Pentagon was on July 6. This visit was to "review and constantly strengthen" U.S. military plans against ISIS.
"ISIL leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple: You are next," Obama said, reports New York Daily News. Obama also spoke about the achievements of the anti-ISIS alliance, saying that they had "dropped more bombs" in November than any other month. He also claimed that the ISIS had lost 40 percent of its territory in Iraq.
"Every day, we destroy as well more of ISIL's forces -- their fighting positions, bunkers, and staging areas; their heavy weapons, bomb-making factories, compounds and training camps. In many places, ISIL has lost its freedom of maneuver because they know if they mass their forces, we will wipe them out," Obama said, according to CNN.
"We are recognizing that progress needs to keep coming faster. Nobody knows it more than the countless Syrians and people living under the terror, and the people in San Bernardino and Paris and elsewhere who are grieving the loss of their loved ones," Obama said, according to CNN, accepting that the success against the Islamic State needs to come at a faster pace, and much needs to be done to tackle terrorism across the world.
