President Obama said a multinational coalition that carried out airstrikes in Syria shows that the fight against Islamic extremists is "not America's fight alone."
Speaking briefly just before his departure for the United Nations in New York, the president said he is "proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder" with Arab allies Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE. The broader coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State consists of some 40 allies, he said.
"The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this is not American's fight alone," he said.
In an apparent reference to airstrikes against the shadowy Khorasan group of militants, who U.S. officials say was actively plotting attacks on U.S. and Western interests, Obama: "Once again, it must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people."
The Pentagon says that U.S. airstrikes, which included manned warplanes, 37 sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and drones, also targeted the al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front in Syria.
The president said the next step was to "ramp up" the equipping and training of Syrian rebels to take on Islamic State on the ground.
"We are going to do what's necessary," he said, concluding his remarks with: "God bless our troops. God bless America."
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