Obama said: "The terrorist group known as ISIL must be degraded, and ultimately destroyed."

He said: "We come together at a crossroads between war and peace; between disorder and integration; between fear and hope."

Meanwhile, the US said its military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria by using a mix of attack, bomber and fighter aircraft to conduct five airstrikes Tuesday and and Wednesday.

"Two airstrikes west of Baghdad destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles and a weapons cache. Two airstrikes southeast of Irbil destroyed ISIL fighting positions. A fifth airstrike damaged eight ISIL vehicles in Syria northwest of Al Qa'im. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely. The strikes were conducted as part of the President's comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL,"  the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.