This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/usa/354661-obama-isis-libya-airstrikes/
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Obama on US campaign against ISIS in Middle East, Libya (WATCH LIVE) | Obama on US campaign against ISIS in Middle East, Libya (WATCH LIVE) |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama is addressing the nation about American efforts against Islamic State after meeting with the National Security Council at the Pentagon. The briefing comes as the US has expanded its battle against the terrorist group into Libya. | |
| Obama’s meeting with the NSC is to help him assess what is working and what isn’t working in the campaign against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). | Obama’s meeting with the NSC is to help him assess what is working and what isn’t working in the campaign against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). |
| Although Obama praised the successes of the fight against ISIS, he said that the coalition is far from freeing Mosul and Raqqa, the two strongholds of terrorists. He also expressed concern that ISIS networks would be able to sustain themselves even after the defeat in Syria and Iraq. | |
| "The decline of ISIL in Syria and Iraq is causing it to shift to tactics that we’ve seen before," he said noting that high-profile terrorist attacks in US. | |
| Obama said that is pleased with progress on the ground and that when it comes to conventional fights, ISIS can be beaten with forces on the ground with support from coalition. But working with their propaganda is more difficult. | |
| Obama said that he is not concerned much about of 9/11 style attack, but rather small attacks that would accessible means, such as the one in Nice. | |
| On Monday, the president authorized a bombing campaign in Libya, at the behest of the current Libyan government, known as the Government of National Accord (GNA). On Tuesday, that authorization was extended into a 30-day mission of US airstrikes in Libya against IS. | On Monday, the president authorized a bombing campaign in Libya, at the behest of the current Libyan government, known as the Government of National Accord (GNA). On Tuesday, that authorization was extended into a 30-day mission of US airstrikes in Libya against IS. |
| While the GNA is the official ruling body of Libya and has been endorsed by the UN, much of the country is outside its control, including the capital of Tripoli. The president previously described the country as “kind of a mess,” with IS holding power in a relatively small coastal segment of the country, Libya Dawn and other Islamists in charge in Tripoli and the surrounding areas, and parts of the south being ruled by local militias. | While the GNA is the official ruling body of Libya and has been endorsed by the UN, much of the country is outside its control, including the capital of Tripoli. The president previously described the country as “kind of a mess,” with IS holding power in a relatively small coastal segment of the country, Libya Dawn and other Islamists in charge in Tripoli and the surrounding areas, and parts of the south being ruled by local militias. |
| The US is already involved in anti-IS airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, and has been since September 2014. Obama is expected to tout recent gains that the US-led coalition has made on that front, AP reported. Iraq’s government, with significant “advise and consent” help from the US, is currently preparing a major offensive in Mosul, a northern city IS has controlled since June 2014. | The US is already involved in anti-IS airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, and has been since September 2014. Obama is expected to tout recent gains that the US-led coalition has made on that front, AP reported. Iraq’s government, with significant “advise and consent” help from the US, is currently preparing a major offensive in Mosul, a northern city IS has controlled since June 2014. |