U.S. President Barack Obama has approved sending up to 250 additional military personnel to Syria in a bid to extend cooperation abetting Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Different administration sources have confirmed the approval on Sunday which is expected to get formally announced on Monday during the U.S. President's farewell address at Hanover Messe fairgrounds in Germany.
In December, President Obama has admitted for the first time in public that a small contingent of 50 or so elite commandos has begun working inside Syria helping the local forces combating ISIS. The planned announcement is believed to be a part of his administration's intensified efforts in fighting the extremist group, reports CBS News.
Deployment of additional personnel to Syria has been decided following announcement for sending another 217 military personnel to Iraq. The U.S. forces has been training and advising their Iraqi counterparts. Ashton Carter, the U.S. Defense Secretary, has announced recently that they have been identifying more ways to accelerate the campaign against IS, reports USA Today.
The additional 250 military personnel will be from special operation forces mostly. The group will also include some medical and logistical troops providing support services. Senior U.S. officials are overwhelmed with the success of the forces in Syria. Besides achieving success in different areas, the deployed troops in Syria have expressed their ability to generate critical intelligence. They have been providing a better view to the U.S. led coalition over the happenings on the ground while targeting the insurgents, according to a report published in Fox News. Meanwhile, the U.S. President has reiterated his reluctance in creating a safe zone inside Syria for the thousands of people fleeing from the war torn state. He has been addressing a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday. Requirement of ground troops for ensuring safety inside the safe zone has been cited as the major reason behind his reluctance towards the idea. The German Chancellor has earlier expressed her support in favor of the idea. However, the U.S. President has opposed the Merkel supported concept, which has been proposed as a part of the peace negotiations in Geneva. However, deployment of the additional forces to Iraq appears as the first increase in strength of the U.S. forces within a year. Eight Apache helicopters are also being sent to Iraq for the first time to help local militias in combating IS. Both the moves aim to help Iraqi forces in reoccupying the key northern city of Mosul.
