WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama told top lawmakers Tuesday that he has the authority he needs to take action against Islamic State (IS) militants.
Obama, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders had a "productive" discussion and the leaders expressed their support for efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy IS, the White House said in a statement. The Islamic State, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is an al-Qaida splinter group also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The meeting came ahead of a speech on Wednesday evening in which Obama will lay out his plan to fight the extremist group.
Obama told the Leaders that he would welcome action by Congress that would "aid the overall effort" and demonstrate to the world that the United States is united in defeating the threat from IS, said the statement.
Obama reiterated his belief that the nation is stronger and its efforts more effective when he and Congress work together to combat a national security threat like IS, according to the statement.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday that Obama will unveil a broad explanation of the "next phase" of U.S. efforts against Islamic militants, but not provide other concrete details such as the cost and the timeline for the operation.
"In the context of the speech that the president is preparing for tomorrow, I wouldn't expect something that's quite that detailed," Earnest told a press briefing.
PARIS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday said dispatching French forces on the ground to fight Islamic State fighters in Iraq was possible as part of the international community efforts to curb terrorism in the region.
Asked by the local broadcaster Europe 1 if Paris intended to send ground troops in the conflict-torn Arab country, Le Drian said: "We'll not state how we are acting; we'll see when it will happen."Full story
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military forces continued to attack the Islamic State (IS) forces in Iraq, using a mix of attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct five airstrikes Sunday and Monday, according to a statement from the U. S. Central Command.
The airstrikes, which destroyed three armed vehicles and one Humvee of IS forces, were conducted under authority to protect U.S. personnel and facilities, support humanitarian efforts, and support Iraqi forces that are acting in furtherance of these objectives, said the statement which was released Monday. Full Story
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is leaving for the Middle East Tuesday to garner regional support for U.S.-led efforts to combat the Islamic State militant group now rampaging in Iraq, the State Department said Monday.
The top American envoy will have bilateral discussions with Jordanian and Saudi officials as well as consultations with "key partners and allies" in the region, spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement. Full Story
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