Barack Obama prepared the US for a “steady, relentless” war with Islamic militants in a speech to the nation that heralds a substantial expansion of the US campaign against the group from northern Iraq into neighbouring Syria.
In a prime time televised address, Mr Obama outlined his strategy “to degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, which has shocked the White House by grabbing large swaths of territory in northern Iraq and Syria in recent months.
The president’s address, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, also made clear the limits for the moment of Washington’s action, which will focus on air power and intelligence to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces, with no US troops on the front lines.