President Barack Obama laid out steps to crush ISIL in Iraq and Syria during a televised address Wednesday evening at the White House, announcing that "America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat."

"Our objective is clear: We will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy," Obama said.

The United States has been using targeted airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. And Obama on Wednesday said he has approved U.S. airstrikes in Syria against ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

"I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are," the president stressed. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven."

During his speech, Obama said 475 additional U.S. service personnel will be sent to Iraq to "support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment." Obama made it clear that "these American forces will not have a combat mission."

Obama also called on Congress to approve $500 million to "train and equip" Syrian opposition fighters.

"I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL," the president said. "But I believe we are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional support for this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger."

In response to Obama's strategy, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH,8) said, "I support the president’s plan to train and equip the Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian opposition, but I remain concerned that those measures could take years to fully implement at a time when ISIL’s momentum and territorial gains need to be immediately halted and reversed."

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL,16), a U.S. Air Force veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, also sent out a statement after Obama's address to the nation.

“I am encouraged to see President Obama unleashing the might of the American military against the evil group known as ISIS, no matter where they may try to hide,” he said. “We must remain focused on eradicating this threat, and strong leadership from President Obama will be key in the coming weeks and months. Our chief aim must be the destruction of ISIS, and no options should be off the table.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL,10), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement in response to the president's remarks.

The evil brutality and increasing territorial reach of ISIS poses a clear and present danger to American national security, and that of our allies in the Middle East and throughout the world. Thoughtful, strategic and sustained action to protect Americans and our national security interests is necessary to combat ISIS. 

Tonight, the President outlined a strategy to combat the growing scourge of ISIS and limit its reach. Though I remain resolute that U.S. military engagement must not involve American combat troops on the ground, it is critical that the United States work jointly with our international partners, and in particular our allies in the region, to contain and ultimately eliminate the threat of ISIS.

Click through for more on this story from the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet. Read Obama's full speech here.