Obama orders air strikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria (+Video of Speech)

On Wednesday night, Sept. 10, only hours before the U.S. would commemorate the fateful attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City 13 years ago, President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. will join “with our friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL.”

Hoping to soothe the fear of those weary of war the President said that this will be a “steady, relentless effort” brought about by airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria. He emphasized the strikes will help support military partners on the ground.

“I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil,” he emphasized. He cited smaller-scale operations the U.S. has carried out in the recent past. He said, “This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.”

What follows is the president’s speech in its entirety.