U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a live televised address on his plans for military action against the Islamic State, from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington September 10, 2014. [Photo: CFP]
U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States is ready to wage a counterterrorism war against Islamic State militants in both Syria and Iraq. But he ruled out any involvement of American forces on the ground. Our Washington chief correspondent Xiaohong has more.
On the eve of the 13th anniversary of Sep. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the United States will launch a steady and relentless counterterrorism campaign against ISIL.
"Our objective is clear: we will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy."
He also vows to take out the terrorist organization wherever they exist. That means the United States is ready to extend the scope of its air strikes to other regions, including Syria. To date, the United States has launched over 150 air strikes in Iraq targeting ISIL militants.
However, he stressed that this counterterrorism campaign is different from the Afghan or Iraqi war his predecessor President George W. Bush launched in the wake of Sep. 11 terrorist attacks.
"It will not involve U.S. combat troops fighting on foreign soil. 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."
He says the U.S. is ready to provide more support to the Iraqi government in fighting ISIL.
"We will increase our support to forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. In June I deployed several hundred American service members to Iraq to assess how we can best support Iraqi security forces. Now that those teams have completed their work and Iraq has formed a government, we will send an additional 475 service members to Iraq."
He is also urging Congress to provide additional authorities and resources to train and equip fighters against ISIL in Syria.
Xiaohong, CRI, Washington.
