MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE: Florida: President Barack Obama vowed on Wednesday the United States will not fight another ground war in Iraq, seeking to reassure Americans about the level of US involvement after a top general suggested some combat troops could be deployed.

Obama, who has spent much of his presidency distancing himself from the Iraq war, stressed during a speech at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa that airstrikes would be the central US contribution to the fight against Islamic State, along with coordinating a coalition that he said now includes more than 40 countries.

“I want to be clear. The American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission,” Obama said. His message came a day after Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, left the door slightly ajar to the possibility of some ground forces.

“As your commander in chief I will not commit you and the rest of our armed forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq,” Obama said.