Obama says coalition forces have halted ISIS's momentum

Mr. Obama flew to a New Jersey military base to thank troops for their service heading into the holiday season and to defend his handling of national security at a time of multiple challenges. While critics have said the campaign against the Islamic State has not succeeded, the president argued that it had made a difference.

“Because of you, we have blunted their momentum and we have put them on the defensive,” Mr. Obama told 3,000 troops in camouflage uniforms and civilian defense personnel gathered in a hangar here. “And these terrorists are learning the same thing that the leaders of Al Qaeda have learned the hard way. They may think that they can chalk up some quick victories, but our reach is long. We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you.”

With a C-130 Hercules parked to his left, Mr. Obama said American airstrikes coupled with local forces on the ground had inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL. The American-led coalition, he said, has taken out commanders, fighters, checkpoints, buildings, barracks, hundreds of vehicles and tanks and nearly 200 oil and gas facilities that were financing its efforts, while also damaging its command and control structure and fracturing its supply lines. “America led the way,” he said. “That’s what we do.”