‘You are next’, Obama warns Islamic State leaders

President Barack Obama on Monday said the US-led coalition is making progress against Islamic State militants in both Iraq and Syria, as he delivered an update on the campaign aimed at reassuring Americans anxious about the spread of extremism-fueled terrorism.

Thirty-seven percent said they approve of Mr. Obama’s handling of foreign policy, and 34 percent said they approve of his handling of the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

Obama, a Democrat, has come under criticism by Republicans for not doing enough to counter Islamic State, in particular since the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and were claimed by Islamic State, and the December 2 shooting in San Bernardino, California. Fears of terrorism are hanging over America’s holiday season, and Obama plans a series of eve…

Listing eight ISIS figures killed in coalition operations, Mr Obama issued a stern warning.

As national security takes center stage in the presidential race, Obama is also hoping to draw a contrast with Donald Trump and his inflammatory remarks about Muslims, which the Obama administration has said endangers USA national security.

At the National Counterterrorism Center, which analyzes intelligence at its facility in suburban Virginia, Obama planned to address reporters Thursday after a briefing by intelligence and security agencies on threat assessments.

“Just as the United States is doing more in this fight, just as our allies, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Australia and Italy are doing more, so must others”, the US president said at a press conference following the meeting.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry is in Moscow to try to forge a pact with Russian Federation over a how to defeat ISIS and bring an end to Syria’s civil war.

Asked later about current efforts by the US’ Middle East partners, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said “that some” Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations – made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates – appeared “somewhat distracted by the sectarian conflict in Yemen in a way that has diverted resources” from the fight against Islamic State.

“We recognize that progress needs to keep coming faster”, Obama said. “No one knows that more than the countless Syrians and Iraqi’s living every day under ISIL’s terror, as well as the families of San Bernardino and Paris”, said President Obama. Until now, USA officials had refused to say whether the American commandos had begun their mission. “Far from being contained – much less defeated – ISIS has now extended the reach of its terror farther than ever before”.

Notably, the military leaders appearing with Obama at the Pentagon included Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, whose forces are playing a bigger role in Iraq and Syria.

The poll shows that Americans are overwhelmingly behind airstrikes against the group in Syria and Iraq, and an increasing number support sending ground troops to the region.