NEW YORK, September 10 (RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama is poised to announce his strategy on defeating Islamic State (IS) militants, who have imposed a caliphate across swathes of Iraq and Syria, a White House official said on Wednesday.
“Tonight you will hear from the president how the United States will pursue a comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, including US military action and support for the forces combating ISIL on the ground – both the opposition in Syria and a new, inclusive Iraqi government,” the official said.
“The president will discuss how we are building a coalition of allies and partners in the region and in the broader international community to support our efforts, and will talk about how we work with the Congress as a partner in these efforts,” he added.
Obama’s primetime address comes on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which precipitated US anti-terrorism efforts.
The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a Sunni group estimated to have as many as 50,000 fighters and govern or exert influence over eight million people.
