Barack Obama vows to hunt terrorists 'from Pakistan to Paris'

• By Simon Keegan

Tough-talking Barack Obama has vowed to hunt down terrorists from “Pakistan to the streets of Paris”.

During the annual State of Union address the US president also called on Congress to sanction new war powers against Islamic militants.

Addressing the nation he said American military leadership in Syria and Iraq is stopping ISIS’s advance but urged the house to authorise stepping up the military campaign against the terror group.

He said he wanted “to show the world that we are united in this mission”.

Obama added: “Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group.”

“We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed.”

Opposition Republicans, who have a majority in Congress following the mid term elections in November, have said they are ready to consider the proposals.

Obama added: “We stand united with people around the world who’ve been targeted by terrorists - from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris.

“We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we’ve done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies.”

Obama, who has been heavily criticised in recent months over his foreign policies, spoke at length highlighting the achievements of the his administration in its six years in office.

Declaring America had finally turned the corner from recession, he promised to push forward with “middle-class economics”.

Responding to the president’s address, Republican Senator Joni Ernst said: “Americans have been hurting, but when we demand solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like ‘Obamacare’.

“It’s a mindset that gave us political talking points, not serious solutions.”