Sen. Chambliss: Airstrikes are not going to win this conflict

(CNN) – The latest round of airstrikes in Syria are targeting ISIS-controlled oil fields, striking the terrorist group's cash flow.

U.S. surveillance had identified the targets over the last several weeks, said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Hitting the oil installations "would cause the least amount of collateral damage, but yet seek to do really do damage to the infrastructure of ISIL," said Chambliss, using an alternative name for the group.

And while the Georgia Republican acknowledged that airstrikes can do a significant amount of damage, he is skeptical they will be enough to defeat ISIS.

"Airstrikes are not going to win this conflict," said Chambliss. "Ultimately, they're going to have to be boots on the ground."

Just who will provide those boots, says Chambliss, is "the next step" in this conflict.

For more of our interview with Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, click on the video below.