Obama Commends Jordan For 'Stepping Up' Against Islamic State

President Barack Obama discussed the progress being made against the Islamic State with Jordan's King on Friday, highlighting the importance of the Middle Eastern nation as an ally in its fight against the terrorist organization.

While speaking at the White House's Oval Office on Friday, the president discussed the "slow and steady progress" being made against the terrorist organization that has taken over swaths of Iraq and Syria. The president also thanked Jordan's King Abdullah for his country's help in defeating the Islamic State.

According to the Associated Press, the president described Jordan as a "small, resource-poor country that consistently steps up" to help with international crises. The Commander-in-Chief added that he is asking Congress to nearly double its aid for Jordan thanks to the Middle Eastern country's continued support.

"The Jordanian military has been working side by side with U.S. and other militaries from around the world in making slow but steady progress, providing assistance to Baghdad, providing assistance to the moderate opposition inside of Syria and to begin culling back some of the gains that ISIL has made," Obama said. "We recognize that it's a long-term and extremely complex challenge, but it's one that we feel optimistic that we'll be able to succeed in."

One day after the United Nations called on Arab countries to denounce the Islamic State, Queen Rania of Jordan delivered a statement saying the terrorist organization is trying to "hijack" the Arab world and bring it back to the "dark ages."

"A minority of irreligious extremists is using social media to rewrite our narrative and hijack our identity," the queen said while attending a conference in the United Arab Emirates.