President Obama spoke on U.S. airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria Tuesday. The comments mark the first time the president has spoken publicly about the strikes in Syria.
The United States, along with five partnering Arab nations, hit ISIS sites in eastern Syria Monday, the Associated Press reported.
"Last night on my orders, America's armed forces began strikes against ISIL targets in Syria. Today the American people give thanks for their the extraordinary service of our men and women in uniform, including the pilots who flew the missions with the courage and professionalism we have come to expect from the finest military that the world has ever known," the president said.
Obama said the United States was joined in combating ISIS by the Arab states of "Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate, Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar."
The president added the United States would be moving forward with training and equipping Syria opposition against ISIS.
"Forty nations offered to help in this comprehensive effort to confront this terrorist threat," the president added.
Obama said the airstrikes made clear that the U.S. would not allow terrorist safe havens to operate in foreign countries.
"It must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and try to do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people."