Obama Says No Plans for Imminent Escalation of Operations Against Islamic State Extremists Killed Nearly 500 This Week in One Syrian Province, Opposition Activists Say By MICHAEL R. CRITTENDEN and SAM DAGHERAug. 28, 2014 Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, President Barack Obama said that the Islamic State poses a direct threat to Iraq and the region requiring a broad, comprehensive military strategy to confront it.