U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement after meeting with the National Security Council at the State Department in Washington, February 25, 2016. Obama on Thursday expressed confidence that the United States would prevail in its fight against the Islamic State, but said that an end to the conflict in Syria would be key to dismantling the group. Standing next to the president (L-R), U.S. envoy to the international coalition against Islamic State Brett McGurk, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chaiman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford. REUTERS/Carlos Barria