Barack Obama meets with generals from 22 countries as Isil fighters advance in western Iraq.

The US military admitted last night that Isil „has tactical momentum on several fronts” as jihadist forces continued to make advances in both Syria and Iraq.

American warplanes dramatically escalated strikes against Isil fighters laying siege to the Syrian town of Kobane but have so far been unable to push the jihadists back.

Meanwhile, Isil forces surrounded a major airbase in western Iraq and are threatening to overrun government forces there.

The jihadists’ endurance on the battlefield in both countries raises questions about whether the American-led air campaign is succeeding in meeting President Barack Obama’s goal of „defeating and ultimately destroying Isil”.

Mr Obama met with a war council of generals from 22 countries last night to discuss the coalition effort against the jihadists.

Source: telegraph.co.uk