With the Middle East engulfed in turmoil surrounding a variety of geopolitical developments, the United States has taken action on multiple fronts. The most concentrated effort in recent weeks has been focused on the Islamic State. Until recently, the group has been termed the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. However after more research into the goals and ideals of the Islamic State.

With an enhanced understanding of the terrorist organization’s main objectives, many now term the group the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL), referring to the strip of land running from southern Turkey through Syria and into Egypt that the group hopes to claim as a new caliphate. President Obama, the United Nations, and many other organizations have altered their view of how we should approach the Islamic State.

According to a new report published by the Pentagon, the United States devotes 85 percent of its multinational air strikes to the Islamic State. The Pentagon details that between fighter planes and drones, the United States has engaged in 819 air strikes on the Islamic State, compared to just 157 air strikes among 10 other countries using resources towards the expulsion of the terrorist group.

The United States has remained intolerant of the Islamic State’s actions since the beheading of two American journalists earlier this summer. Since the air strikes began on August 8th, other nations such as France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada have all made efforts towards eliminating the Islamic State. After the first American air strikes fell in Iraq, it was obvious that the United States was determined to put the Islamic State on the forefront of the international community’s agenda.

Many military officials are concerned about in increase in civilian casualties and are being very careful in selecting pilots for certain missions. Many have urged Arab countries who want to join the cause in eliminating the Islamic State to enter the conflict on rules of limited engagement to prevent further entanglements with local political problems.

As the war against the Islamic State wages on, the United States will continue to monitor their air strike efforts while simultaneously contributing resources and capital along with many other developed nations