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Obama says military campaign will take time

President Barack Obama addresses the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014. In a major reversal, Obama ordered the United States into a broad military campaign to “degrade and ultimately destroy” militants in two volatile Middle East nations, authorizing airstrikes inside Syria for the first time, as well as an expansion of strikes in Iraq. (AP Photo/Saul Loeb, Pool) President Barack Obama addresses the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014. In a major reversal, Obama ordered the United States into a broad military campaign to “degrade and ultimately destroy” militants in two volatile Middle East nations, authorizing airstrikes inside Syria for the first time, as well as an expansion of strikes in Iraq. (AP Photo/Saul Loeb, Pool)

By Associated Press September 10, 2014 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says it will take time to eradicate Islamic State extremists but is offering no timetable for how long the United States will conduct airstrikes against the group in Iraq and Syria.

The president spoke to the nation from the White House Wednesday night. He said that any time the United States takes military action, there are risks involved, particularly for the members of the military who carry out the missions.

The president said the military campaign will not involve American combat troops on the ground.