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Obama to discuss Islamic State with European leaders | Obama to discuss Islamic State with European leaders |
(about 4 hours later) | |
US President Barack Obama is to hold a video conference with European leaders to discuss combating Islamic State. | |
Mr Obama told foreign military chiefs on Tuesday to expect a long campaign against the jihadist group, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. | Mr Obama told foreign military chiefs on Tuesday to expect a long campaign against the jihadist group, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. |
He also expressed deep concern about the IS offensive on the town of Kobane, on Syria's border with Turkey. | He also expressed deep concern about the IS offensive on the town of Kobane, on Syria's border with Turkey. |
US-led forces carried out 18 air strikes on IS targets near the town on Tuesday and Wednesday, the US said. | |
Central Command said in a statement that combat positions were destroyed and 16 buildings hit in the strikes, aimed at supporting Kurdish fighters who have been under siege in Kobane for almost a month. | |
The coalition has stepped up strikes in the region in recent days, in an effort to prevent IS from capturing the strategically important town. | |
Five more strikes were carried out against IS militants in Iraq, it added - four near Bayji and one near Haditha Dam. | |
Meanwhile the jihadists are said to be advancing on the Iraqi town of Amariya al-Falluja, one of the last still controlled by government forces in Anbar province and only 40km (25 miles) from the capital Baghdad. | |
"Coalition air strikes will continue in both of these areas," Mr Obama told a meeting of senior military commanders from more than 20 Western and Arab countries at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Tuesday. | "Coalition air strikes will continue in both of these areas," Mr Obama told a meeting of senior military commanders from more than 20 Western and Arab countries at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Tuesday. |
Mr Obama warned that they were facing a "long-term campaign". | Mr Obama warned that they were facing a "long-term campaign". |
"There are not quick fixes involved. We're still at the early stages." | "There are not quick fixes involved. We're still at the early stages." |
"As with any military effort, there will be days of progress and there are going to be periods of setback," he added. | "As with any military effort, there will be days of progress and there are going to be periods of setback," he added. |
The battle for Kobane is regarded as a major test of whether the coalition's air campaign can push back IS in Syria. | The battle for Kobane is regarded as a major test of whether the coalition's air campaign can push back IS in Syria. |
US-led forces have been carrying out air strikes in support of Kurdish forces there for two weeks. | US-led forces have been carrying out air strikes in support of Kurdish forces there for two weeks. |
Jihadist militants are believed to control about half of the predominantly Kurdish town, from which more than 160,000 people have fled. | Jihadist militants are believed to control about half of the predominantly Kurdish town, from which more than 160,000 people have fled. |