President Barack Obama announced authorized United States airstrikes for the first time in Syria and more attacks in Iraq in a broad escalation of a campaign against the Islamic State militant group, according to The Associated Press.
In a 13-minute White House speech, Obama said he would hunt down Islamic State militants "wherever they are" in a drive to degrade and ultimately destroy the group, which has seized broad stretches of Iraq and Syria, the AP reported. Obama told Americans: "It will take time to eradicate a cancer like ISIS," the White House's acronym for the militant group.
"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," Obama said, according to the AP.
President Obama asked Congress to authorize $500 million to train and arm "moderate" Syrian rebels, with the training taking place in Saudi Arabia, the AP reported. A vote on the money would put lawmakers on record supporting the military action, although White House officials stressed Obama already had the authority he needed for the new moves.
Obama plans to expand the list of targets inside Iraq beyond several isolated areas, with the U.S. military launching more than 150 airstrikes in Iraq in the past month to help halt Islamic State advances, according to the AP.
The new target list will include Islamic State's "leadership, logistical and operational capability" as well as an attempt to "deny it sanctuary and resources to plan, prepare and execute attacks," the White House said, the AP reported.
It is unclear whether more American weapons and training can shift the battlefield balance toward the U.S.-backed rebels, who are badly outgunned by Islamic State, other militant groups and Assad's forces, the AP reported.
