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By Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer

December 15, 2014 -- Updated 2116 GMT (0516 HKT)

Christie greets Obama on May 28 after Air Force One landed at McGuire Air Force base.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Fort Dix, New Jersey (CNN) -- President Barack Obama offered a bullish assessment of his war on Islamic terrorists in Syria and Iraq on Monday, even as he acknowledged small gains by ISIS would mean the U.S. engagement there will be prolonged.

Speaking inside a New Jersey airplane hangar with a massive Navy C-130 as his backdrop, Obama said the U.S. was "hammering these terrorists" by taking out supply chains and disrupting the network's command structure.

"We have blunted their momentum and put them on the defensive," Obama said.

"They may think that they can chalk up some quick victories, but our reach is long," he said. "We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you, and like petty tyrants and terrorists before you, the world is going to leave you behind and keep moving on without you, because we will get you."

Obama flew to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, near Trenton, to offer his thanks to U.S. military personnel, many of whom have served in combat zones. He said the 3,000 troops who filled the hangar they were like "Santa in fatigues" for the work they had carried out on behalf of the United States.

During his remarks he noted his efforts to wind down the war in Afghanistan, where the U.S. combat mission will conclude at year's end.

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Obama: U.S. 'hammering' ISIS

FORT DIX, N.J., - President Barack Obama used a holiday season visit to a US military base on Monday to issue a tough warning to Islamic State militants, saying a US-led coalition will permit no safe haven to the group and will destroy it eventually.

Obama spoke to hundreds of camouflage-wearing troops in a hangar at Fort Dix to thank the US military for its actions around the world.

In a display of bipartisan support for the troops, Obama was joined by New Jersey's Republican Governor Chris Christie, a potential candidate to succeed Obama in 2016.

The US-led coalition in Syria and Iraq has had some successes against the Islamic State group but has yet to force a major rollback from the territorial gains the extremists made in seizing large swathes of Iraq last summer.

"Make no mistake. Our coalition isn't just going to degrade this barbaric terrorist organisation. We're going to destroy it," Obama said.

Obama said gains are being made. Hundreds of vehicles and tanks and more than 1,000 fighting positions have been taken out, he said.

"We are hammering these terrorists," he said.

"They may think that they can chalk up some quick victories, but our reach is long. We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you and like petty tyrants and terrorists before you, the world is going to leave you behind and keep moving on without you, because we will get you," Obama said.

Obama also said the United States is on track to end its combat mission in Afghanistan at year's end, leaving behind a force dedicated to training Afghan security forces and carrying out counter-terrorism operations.

Obama last month approved a slight expansion in the US role in the counter-terrorism operations. There are concerns in Afghanistan, however, about increasing Taliban attacks in the capital, Kabul.

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Obama vows no safe haven for Islamic State

Marking what he called a "turning point" for the U.S. military, President Barack Obama on Monday saluted troops returning from Afghanistan and declared the United States is moving past the time for large deployments aimed at nation building.

Obama noted that nearly 180,000 troops were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan when he took office, and that number will be down to less than 15,000 at the end of the month.

"The time of deploying large ground forces with big military footprints to engage in nation building overseas, that's coming to an end," the commander in chief said in a speech to 3,000 at New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a launching point for deployments to Afghanistan.

U.S. and NATO troops closed their operational command in Afghanistan last week after 13 years of war. Some troops will remain, however, to carry out operations against Taliban and al-Qaida targets.

"Going forward our military will be leaner," Obama said. "But as your commander in chief, I'm going to make sure we keep you ready for the range of missions that we ask of you. We are going to keep you the best trained, the best led, the best equipped military in the history of the world because the world will still be calling."

The base also has been used to send service members to West Africa to help confront the Ebola crisis.

Obama was greeted upon arrival by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Obama and the potential 2016 presidential candidate shared a laugh and a long handshake before heading to the event to express gratitude to the troops ahead of the holidays. "You guys are like Santa in fatigues," Obama joked.

At a time when Republicans are fighting Obama's action to offer reprieve from deportations, the president singled out one immigrant working on the base. Obama said the airman, who fled civil war in his native Congo and joined the U.S. military, has "that same patriotism, that same sense of what we're about as Americans; that same creed that we can all pledge allegiance to regardless of what we look like or where we come from."

"We're fighting on the same team, for the same values and same ideals," Obama said.

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Obama to Thank Troops in NJ Ahead of Holidays

FORT DIX, N.J.

Marking what he called a "turning point" for the U.S. military, President Barack Obama on Monday saluted troops returning from Afghanistan and declared the United States is moving past the time for large deployments aimed at nation building.

Obama noted that nearly 180,000 troops were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan when he took office, and that number will be down to less than 15,000 at the end of the month.

"The time of deploying large ground forces with big military footprints to engage in nation building overseas, that's coming to an end," the commander in chief said in a speech to 3,000 at New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a launching point for deployments to Afghanistan.

U.S. and NATO troops closed their operational command in Afghanistan last week after 13 years of war. Some troops will remain, however, to carry out operations against Taliban and al-Qaida targets.

"Going forward our military will be leaner," Obama said. "But as your commander in chief, I'm going to make sure we keep you ready for the range of missions that we ask of you. We are going to keep you the best trained, the best led, the best equipped military in the history of the world because the world will still be calling."

The base also has been used to send service members to West Africa to help confront the Ebola crisis.

Obama was greeted upon arrival by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Obama and the potential 2016 presidential candidate shared a laugh and a long handshake before heading to the event to express gratitude to the troops ahead of the holidays. "You guys are like Santa in fatigues," Obama joked.

At a time when Republicans are fighting Obama's action to offer reprieve from deportations, the president singled out one immigrant working on the base. Obama said the airman, who fled civil war in his native Congo and joined the U.S. military, has "that same patriotism, that same sense of what we're about as Americans; that same creed that we can all pledge allegiance to regardless of what we look like or where we come from."

"We're fighting on the same team, for the same values and same ideals," Obama said.

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Obama declares 'turning point' for US military

NBC News Special Report - President Obama Press Conference 8/1/2014
David Gregory anchors an NBC News Special Report, Chuck Todd reports from the White House Richard Engel reports from Gaza. President Obama holds a Press Co.

By: mit Korkmaz

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NBC News Special Report - President Obama Press Conference 8/1/2014 - Video