US 'intensifying' anti-IS efforts in Syria: Obama

Washington

President Barack Obama said Monday the US-led coalition battling Islamic State jihadists was "intensifying" its campaign against the group's base in Syria, but cautioned the fight would be long.

Obama addressed the media after a briefing at the Pentagon with top military brass and members of his national security team on efforts to dismantle the jihadist group, which has taken over large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

The high-level talks came after coalition air strikes that hit the Islamic State group's de facto capital Raqa in Syria over the weekend -- some of the heaviest bombing since it began targeting the IS in Syria in September last year.

"We're intensifying our efforts against ISIL's base in Syria. Our air strikes will continue to target the oil and gas facilities that fund so much of their operations," Obama told reporters, using a common acronym for the Islamic State group.

"We're going after the ISIL leadership and infrastructure in Syria, the heart of ISIL that pumps funds and propaganda to people around the world."

But Obama cautioned the fight would likely face "setbacks."

"This will not be quick. This is a long-term campaign," he said, calling IS fighters "opportunistic" and "nimble."