The U.S. Military conducted 22 airstrikes that spanned from Thursday, October 23 to Friday, October 24. On the same day the U.S. conducted the airstrikes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the U.S. led airstrikes in Syria had killed more than 500 militant leaders and 32 civilians; six of them children and five of them women, according to International Business Times.

This past 10th of September, Obama released a statement from the White House addressing how the U.S. will deal with ISIL. In Obama’s speech, he declared that the U.S. was going to unite with Iraq to fight against ISIL.

ISIL, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is a terrorist group from Iraq that wants to form a caliphate, an Islamic state led by a supreme and religious leader known as a caliph, according to Bustle.com.

Federal officials such as members of Congress explain ISIL’s motives.

“They want an Islamic caliphate that runs through Syria and Iraq…and they plan to drive us out of the Mideast by attacking us here at home.” said senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina.

Some important events that prompted Obama’s decision to take action against ISIL was the beheadings of two American journalists — Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff. That is not the only act of violence ISIL is responsible for; they have executed captured prisoners, killed innocent children, enslaved, raped, and forced women into marriage, as well as threaten a religious minority with genocide.

As a result of ISIL’s barbaric actions, Obama decided to take action by joining forces with Iraq to conduct airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Obama also plans on deploying 475 soldiers in Iraq to provide assistance. The Commander in Chief also asked Congress’s approval to access $500 million to train and equip Syrian rebels.

Furthermore, Obama will double his efforts in preventing ISIL attacks by reducing the terrorist group’s funds, improving United States’s intelligence, strengthening our defenses, and clearing the misconceptions about ISIL’s ideology. Finally, Obama plans to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians affected by ISIL.

As Obama stated in his speech, “Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.”

Despite the seemingly fool-proof plan, many people have found some flaws. Business Insider pointed out the two major flaws of the plan. First flaw was that the U.S. had weak partners on the ground; especially in Syria. The second major flaw was that the U.S. was helping to embolden the Syrian Regime of Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria who exercises harsh tyranny upon the people.

Not only are government officials examining Obama’s plan; York students are also looking into what Obama plans to do.

”I think ISIS is doing such a cruel thing and action definitely should be taken. I also believe that Obama’s plan is a good, reasonable plan and covers all the boundaries. however, I think more should be done. We should send more troops. I know we don’t want to shed American blood, but I feel like we should be able to give service to the people in our world who need help. I mean, we would want the same if we were in the same situation.” said Siva Sreedhar, a freshman at York High School.

York Faculty-especially the Social Studies Department- are as well paying attention to Obama’s actions.

“It is too early to assess whether Obama’s foreign policy is going to be a success,” but in the end, “No one benefits. Especially the civilians. Perhaps when the war is over, a free Syria and Iraq might benefit.” said Mrs. DiTomassa, a social studies teacher here at York.