WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday called Saudi King Abdullah about his plan to fight the Islamic militants, just a few hours before he addresses the American public and the world on the Islamic State threat.
In their phone conversation, the two leaders discussed "their shared concerns" about the threat and agreed on the need for " increased training and equipping" of the moderate Syrian opposition, the White House said in a statement.
In his prime-time speech on Wednesday evening, Obama will map out a "comprehensive strategy" to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic State, a White House official said earlier in the day.
The militant group announced the establishment of a caliphate in late June in areas under its control in both Syria and Iraq, and has beheaded two American journalists.
U.S. warplanes have bombed its targets in northern Iraq since Aug. 8, and Obama approved surveillance flights over Syria in late August.
Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the Middle East region overnight to push for Washington's efforts for building a regional coalition, and is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from ten Arab countries and Turkey in the Saudi city of Jeddah Thursday.
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Obama vows more airstrikes on Islamic State
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a prime time address Wednesday night to tell the Americans that he will combat the Islamic State (IS) forces with airstrikes "wherever they exist," according to the excerpts of Obama's address released by the White House.
"This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground," said the excerpts of Obama's address. Full story
Kerry meets Iraqi leaders over counter-terrorism
BAGHDAD, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with the new Iraqi leaders Wednesday in Baghdad and discussed building up a strategy against the extremist militant group of the so-called Islamic State (IS).
During the visit, Kerry held a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who called for the international community to assist Iraq's struggle against the IS. Full story
Obama says he has authority to take action against IS
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama told top lawmakers Tuesday that he has the authority he needs to take action against Islamic State (IS) militants.
Obama, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders had a "productive" discussion and the leaders expressed their support for efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy IS, the White House said in a statement. The Islamic State, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is an al-Qaida splinter group also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Full story
France does not rule out sending troops to fight IS: defense minister
PARIS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday said dispatching French forces on the ground to fight Islamic State fighters in Iraq was possible as part of the international community efforts to curb terrorism in the region.
Asked by the local broadcaster Europe 1 if Paris intended to send ground troops in the conflict-torn Arab country, Le Drian said: "We'll not state how we are acting; we'll see when it will happen."Full story
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