The US Congress has approved the request of President Barack Obama to train and arm the moderate Syrian rebels against the Islamic State jihadists, an important step towards degrading and ultimately destroying the dreaded terrorist group.
The Senate passed the budget Bill, that grants Obama the authority to arm and train Syrian rebel groups, by 78 to 22 votes, a day after it was passed by the House of Representative with an overwhelming majority of 273 to 156.
The Bill now heads to the White House for Obama to pass the Bill into a law.
Describing the passing of the Bill as an important step forward in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Obama said, “I am pleased that Congress has now voted to support a key element of our strategy: our plan to train and equip the opposition in Syria so they can help push back these terrorists.”
Obama said tha the Syrian Opposition forces are fighting both the brutality of ISIL terrorists and the tyranny of the Assad regime.
“We will provide training and equipment to help them (moderate rebel groups) grow stronger and take on ISIL terrorists inside Syria,” Obama said.
The US will continue to build a broad international coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group ISIL, he said, and praised France for its decision to join US in air-strikes against the ISIL in Iraq.
“As part of the air campaign, France will join in strikes against ISIL in Iraq,” Obama said, adding, “As one of our oldest and closest allies, France is a strong partner in our efforts against terrorism, and we are pleased that French and American service members will once again work together.”
French President Francois Hollande had yesterday approved air strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq.
“I have decided to respond positively to the Iraqi authorities to provide air support,” Hollande told reporters yesterday, adding, “We will not go beyond that. There will not be ground troops and we will only intervene in Iraq.”
France is already providing arms to the Kurdish forces in Northern Iraq and its fighter jets and surveillance aircraft had began reconnaissance missions in Iraq earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Opposition Coalition has also welcomed the move of the US Congress.
“We welcome the support and are committed to further demonstrating the credentials of the Free Syrian Army as a reliable and effective partner on the front line against terrorism,” said the Syrian Opposition Coalition Special Representative to the United States and United Nations, Najib Ghadbian.