By Thomas McKinless

During a news conference at the Pentagon Monday, President Barack Obama said the U.S. is hitting the Islamic State terror group “harder than ever.” “Our fighters, bombers and drones have been increasing the pace of airstrikes,” Obama said. “In November, we dropped more bombs on ISIL targets than in any other month since this campaign started.” The president said he has asked Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter to travel to the Middle East to “work with our coalition partners on securing more military contributions to this fight.”