U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, holds a news briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Sept. 25, 2014, about military efforts against extremists known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Kirby showed slides and videos highlighting U.S. airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria and answered questions from reporters. President Barack Obama authorized humanitarian aid deliveries to Iraq as well as targeted airstrikes to protect U.S. personnel from ISIL. U.S. Central Command directed the operations.