WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Barack Obama yesterday told military leaders from more than 20 countries working with Washington to defeat Islamic State that he was deeply concerned about the radical group’s advances at the north Syrian town of Kobani and in western Iraq.
But Obama did not hint any changes to what he saw as long-term strategy that would see ups and downs in the months ahead, even as pressure builds for the coalition to stop the Islamic State from taking control of more territory.
“This is going to be a long-term campaign,” Obama told the defense chiefs during a meeting at Andrews Air Force Base, outside Washington.
He spoke after U.S.-led air strikes had pounded Islamic State targets around Kobani near the Turkish border, where Kurdish fighters are struggling to repel an onslaught by the radical Islamist group.
He said at this point there was a focus on the fighting in Anbar, adding: “And we’re deeply concerned about the situation in and around the Syrian town of Kobani, which underscores the threat that ISIL poses in both Iraq and Syria.” He used an alternative acronym for the group.
U.S. troops had battled hard to secure Anbar against al Qaeda militants during the Iraq war but it is now at risk of being taken over by Islamic State militants.
“Coalition air strikes will continue in both of these areas,” Obama said.
The meeting of military chiefs from 22 countries included representatives from Turkey and Saudi Arabia and was led by General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
