California shooting an 'act of terrorism,' says Barack Obama; vows to ‘destroy’ ISIS

The US President branded Islamic State fighters as ‘thugs and killers’

Washington

: US President Barack Obama described the mass shooting in California an -"act of terrorism-" in an address to the nation four days after the carnage left 14 dead.

President Obama said the Muslim couple who mounted the attack -"had gone down the dark path of radicalization, embracing a perverted interpretation of Islam that calls for war against America and the West.-"

-"They had stockpiled assault weapons, ammunition and pipe bombs. So this was an act of terrorism,-" he said in the rare televised primetime address to the nation, only the third he has delivered from the White House Oval Office.

The US President also vowed to -"destroy-" the Islamic State group, branding its fighters -"thugs and killers-". -"The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it,-" he said, adding, -"We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us.-"

Muslims must confront 'extremist ideology'

President Barack Obama urged Muslims Sunday to confront the -"extremist ideology-" in its midst and ally with the West in combating the Islamic State group.

-"We cannot turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam,-" Obama said in a rare televised address from the Oval Office following the California attacks.

-"That does not mean denying the fact that an extremist ideology has spread within some Muslim communities. It's a real problem that Muslims must confront without excuse.-"

Renewed call for stricter gun controls

President Barack Obama called Sunday for tougher gun controls in the wake of the California shootings, starting with a ban on gun purchases for anyone on a US government no-fly list.

-"To begin with, Congress should act to make sure no one on a no-fly list is able to buy a gun,-" Obama said in a rare televised address from the Oval Office.

-"What could possibly be the argument for allowing a terrorist suspect to buy a semiautomatic weapon This is a matter of national security.-"

US will not be dragged into ground war in Iraq, Syria

Obama reiterated Sunday that the United States would not be pulled into a protracted ground war in Syria or Iraq, even as it steps up the fight against the Islamic State group.

-"We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq and Syria. That's what groups like ISIL want,-" Obama said in a rare televised address from the Oval Office following the California mass shooting.

Obama urges tech companies to help stop 'terrorists'

Obama said that he would enlist the help of high-tech firms as the United States steps up the fight against the Islamic State group.

-"I will urge high-tech and law enforcement leaders to make it harder for terrorists to use technology to escape from justice,-" Obama vowed in an address to the nation following the California mass shooting.