Barack Obama will today outline his plan to ‘degrade and destroy’ Islamic State insurgency in both Syria and Iraq – on the 13th anniversary of 9/11. The US President is to announce his long-awaited strategy for dealing with Islamic State militants in a rare primetime televised address this morning, just hours before commemorations of the terror attacks on New York and Washington. In a statement ahead of his speech, White House officials said the US is planning to arm and train Syrian forces while stepping up air strikes on jihadis in Iraq – and possibly Syria. Scroll down for video
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Obama will announce a long-awaited strategy in an address to the nation
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Air Force has hit ISIS targets in Iraq and will 'eventually' do same in Syria
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President may ask Congress for $500 million to arm rebels in the country
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Speech will come on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
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Mr Obama has said that while he ‘has the authority he needs to take action’ against the Islamic State militants, he would welcome backing from @placeholder that would ‘aid the overall effort and demonstrate to the world that the United States is united in defeating the threat.’
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And 65 per cent say they support extending air strikes into @placeholder.
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Efforts to root out the militant group will focus on bolstering the capacity of Iraqi security forces and the Syrian opposition, as the President has so far ruled out sending @placeholder ground troops into combat.
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The Obama administration has said that @placeholder will not be defeated by military action alone.