WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will make a statement later on Tuesday to address the strategy to counter Islamic State fighters following airstrikes for the first time against the militant group in Syria, a White House officials said.

He will speak before departing the White House for New York City at 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT) to attend the United Nations climate meeting, according to the official, who spoke on background ahead of the official announcement.

The United States and Arab allies began bombing in Syria for the first time on Tuesday, pursuing a campaign against militants in a war at the heart of the Middle East. The United States has been bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq for weeks. Islamic State vowed revenge for the attacks in Syria.