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Obama says US to pursue campaign against IS ‘on all fronts’

President Barack Obama is reflected in the conference table before a meeting of his National Security Council (NSC) at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. The meeting is to focus on the global campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL as well as Syria and other regional issues. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Barack Obama is reflected in the conference table before a meeting of his National Security Council (NSC) at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. The meeting is to focus on the global campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL as well as Syria and other regional issues. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

By Associated Press February 25, 2016 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says he has directed his national security team to press the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group “on all fronts.”

Obama spoke Thursday following a rare meeting at the State Department with his top national security advisers.

Obama says like-minded nations are stepping up and offering more assistance to defeat IS. He says that since last summer the militant group has not launched a single successful operation in Syria or Iraq, where it controls large amounts of territory.

Obama also says a proposed cease-fire between the factions waging civil war in Syria will allow a greater focus on IS. The cease-fire is scheduled to take effect Saturday.

The Islamic State group is not covered by the cease-fire agreement.