President Barrack Obama last Wednesday gave the nod to an escalation on targeted airstrikes across the Syrian territory under the control of the jihadist terror organization ISIS. Speaking directly to the nation through a White House Address, the president also sanctioned emergency assistance missions in northern Iraq. The measures are part of a widely expanding counter-terrorism plan to destroy the Islamic State militants.
The president's address, only fifteen minutes long, outlined the United States government's response to ISIS. The President sanctioned air strikes across the Syrian state and warned that any organization that threatened the United States shall know no safe haven.
President Obama, who only ordered for air strikes last month, also urged Congress to approve money for training rebel forces in Syria.
This turn around in approach comes hot on the heels of major criticism from the Republicans who had earlier on criticized Washington's soft stance on ISIS as well as downplaying of the group's advancement towards northern Iraq. Until now, United States airstrikes were only limited to specific missions in Northern Iraq. The President said on Wednesday that he would oversee the expanding of those efforts towards "protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we're hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense."
The president would also flag off the deployment of 450 non-combat troops to the Syrian territory to assist the Syrian military. The President was quick to affirm that they would not be enforcing a boots-on-ground combat approach. He also emphasized that the United States would not relent on their war against terror extremists. Obama stressed: "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq."
The expanded counter terrorism strategy will also see the United States lead a broad coalition of like-minded states to "roll back the terrorist threat." The president did not state when they would commence their operation. A senior United States administration official, questioned on the timetable for the airstrikes in Syria, said they would not telegraph their punches.
