Kobane has been besieged by IS fighters for several days, forcing about 130,000 Syrian Kurds to flee into Turkey.
IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, and the US has launched nearly 200 air strikes in Iraq since August.
However, Monday's strikes expanded the anti-IS campaign across the border into Syria for the first time.
Activists say at least 70 IS militants, 50 other al-Qaeda-linked fighters and eight civilians were killed in the strikes, which hit multiple targets in the north and east of Syria.
'Exodus from Raqqa' Speaking in Washington, Rear Adm John Kirby said the air strikes in Syria had successfully degraded IS capabilities.
"We think we have hit what we were aiming at," he said.
However, IS was good at adapting and reacting to changes, he said, adding that the group presented a "serious threat" that would not be eliminated "within days or months."
"It's going to take a serious effort by all involved. We do believe that we're talking about years here."
On the Turkey-Syria border, the BBC's Paul Wood found Kurdish refugees grateful for the air strikes
Residents in Raqqa have told journalists that the air strikes have had a big impact on IS fighters.
One activist in Raqqa, Abu Yusef, told AFP news agency that the militants were "focused on trying to save themselves now".
Abo Mohammed, a local resident, told Reuters that the city's main administrative building had been hit by four rockets, and hundreds of fighters who had been controlling traffic and security in the street had now gone.
Residents were also "fleeing towards the countryside" to avoid the strikes, he said. "There is an exodus out of Raqqa as we speak."
Dozens of militants are said to have been killed in the strikes
More than 130,000 people have left Syria to flee the advance of IS fighters
"We will not allow these terrorists to find a safe haven anywhere," he said.
'Distorting Islam' On Tuesday, Mr Obama hailed the support of Arab nations in the air strikes, saying: "This is not America's fight alone."
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar had taken part in or supported the strikes in Syria, Mr Obama said.
Speaking in New York, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said: "Today we are facing a very dangerous situation as terrorism has turned from cells into armies."
He said the threat had engulfed Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen and had "distorted the image of Islam and Muslims."
Meanwhile, the BBC understands that the UK Parliament will be recalled on Friday to discuss Britain's possible role in air strikes on IS targets.
Speaking on Monday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said an international coalition was needed to "destroy" IS, adding that it was a fight "you cannot opt out of".
US military footage showed the impact of Monday's air strikes
They were organised in three separate waves with US fighter jets carrying out the first set, and Arab nations participating in the second and third, US military officials said.
US state department spokeswoman Jan Psaki said the US had warned Syria in advance "not to engage US aircraft".
But she added that Washington had not requested permission or given advance notice of the timing of the attacks.
'Imminent attacks' President Obama said al-Qaeda-linked militants, known as the Khorasan Group, were also targeted by air strikes in Syria.
US officials say the group had been plotting "imminent attacks" against the West, and had established a safe haven west of Aleppo.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, quoted by state media, said he supported any international efforts to combat "terrorism" in Syria.
However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a Syrian government ally, said military action in Syria lacked "legal standing" without a UN mandate or approval from the Syrian government.
President Obama: ''We're going to do what's necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group''
US residents in Colorado, talk to the BBC's Pop Up team about the strikes
- Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
- It captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
- Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
- Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers
- The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria
- The US has been launching air strikes on IS targets in north-eastern Iraq since mid-August
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