"We will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy," President Barack Obama said in a speech Wednesday night at the White House. He announced a four-point strategy to fight the Islamic extremist group known as ISIL.

Speaking to the nation, President Obama announced the United States would escalate its mission against the Islamic terrorist group that has taken over swaths of Syria and Iraq in hopes of creating an Islamic caliphate.

To fight back, the President has authorized further airstrikes against ISIL positions in Iraq, the deployment of 475 American troops to Iraq and the training and arming of Syrian opposition fighters.

The President added the U.S. and allies "will redouble our efforts to cut off [ISIL's] funding, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, counter [ISIL's] warped ideology, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East."

President Obama warned that foreign fighters, including Americans, going to Syria posed a threat to the U.S., and more Americans "are concerned about these threats." According to the Pew Research Center, since the rise of ISIL, an increasing number of Americans worry about Islamic extremism both abroad and at home, opting to forego some civil liberties in exchange for security.

A Washington Post and ABC News poll this month found Americans unhappy with President Obama's cautious handling of ISIL, with 52 percent saying he is too cautious. In the same poll, 71 percent favor airstrikes against the terrorist group. But, how would a military escalation and a return of American troops to Iraq play out?

In a tweet citing Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby, Defense One explained how the new American troops headed to Iraq would be deployed: 150 would be allocated to advise and assist, 125 for ISR aircraft manning and 200 for headquarter command.

However, there already are more than a thousand American troops in Iraq, despite the end of the Iraq War, because of the ISIL threat. In a statement Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said American troops were ready to fulfill their duty but added that success will also depend on cooperation with our allies, Iraq in particular.

President Obama noted in his speech that Iraq's new government would play a crucial role in curbing ISIL's advance and influence in the nation.

"American power can make a decisive difference, but we cannot do for Iraqis what they must do for themselves, nor can we take the place of Arab partners in securing their region," the President explained.

He also told the American people this new military mission would not be like earlier wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but would be modeled in the counterterrorism missions in Yemen and Somalia. In the latter, the U.S. killed Al-Shabaab's leader with an airstrike.

But, Al-Shabaab retaliated on Monday with a suicide bombing, killing 12. Whether this limited strategy will succeed against ISIL remains to be seen.