Obama on ISIS: 'We Will Ultimately Prevail'

President Barack Obama on Monday outlined his administration's policy to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic State (known as ISIS or ISIL).

"To the American people, I want to say we will continue to be vigilant. And we will ultimately prevail," Obama told the media following a meeting with Pentagon commanders.

But, he warned, " This will not be quick. This is a long-term campaign. ISIL is opportunistic and is nimble."

Obama said the additional actions he ordered a month ago have been successful and have robbed ISIS of about one-fourth of the territory it has taken in Iraq and Syria over the past two years.

"This is a reminder that ISIL's strategic weaknesses are real," Obama said, noting that the group is surrounded by enemies and has no air power. It's main weapon, he said, is fear.

The United States and its 60 allies will work not only to hit ISIS militarily, but financially as well, he said. Sunni fighters are being trained in the effort, he added.

The battle is as much over ideas as weaponry, he said, and discrediting its ideas will be a major part of the effort as ISIS works to expand to other continents and to recruit lone wolves in the United States.

"We'll constantly reaffirm through words and deeds we will never be at war with Islam," Obama said. "We're fighting terrorists who distort Islam and whose victims are mostly Muslims."

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