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US to bolster anti-IS forces in Syria

Jacob AlexanderApril 25, 2016

US President Barack Obama has said he plans to increase the number of soldiers combating the self-styled "Islamic State" in Syria. The move will significantly increase US military presence in war-torn Syria.

https://p.dw.com/p/1IbvV
A fighter from Jaish al-Islam (Islam Army), the foremost rebel group in Damascus province who fiercely oppose to both the regime and the Islamic State group, fires in Harasta Qantara, near Marj al-Sultan on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on January 23, 2016, during clashes with government forces after they infiltrated into the government-held area. / AFP / AMER ALMOHIBANY (Photo credit should read AMER ALMOHIBANY/AFP/Getty Images) Getty Images/A.Almohibany
Image: Getty Images/A.Almohibany

President Obama said late Sunday that he has decided to send up to 250 more military personnel to Syria to help local forces fighting the "Islamic State" (IS) group.

The move, first reported by "The Wall Street Journal" newspaper, confirms earlier reports that the Obama administration was considering boosting the number of special operations forces in Syria in hopes of accelerating gains against IS jihadists.

An unnamed US official told the Reuters news agency that the administration was unable to break down how many of those would be special operations forces and how many might be involved in support activities, such as medical and intelligence personnel.

Expansion of 'Islamic State' a global focus

In this undated file image posted by the Raqqa Media Center in Islamic State group-held territory, on Monday, June 30, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, fighters from the Islamic State group ride tanks during a parade in Raqqa, Syria.
Countering IS has been a focus of Obama's talks with leaders in Germany, Saudi Arabia and the UKImage: picture alliance/AP Photo/Raqqa Media Center

The news comes a day after the US president ruled out a ground invasion to remove Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

"It would be a mistake for the United States, or Great Britain, or a combination of Western states to send in ground troops and overthrow the Assad regime," Obama told the BBC on Sunday.

About 50 US special operations forces are already operating in Syria.

IS controls the cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria and is proving a potent threat abroad. It has claimed credit for major attacks in Paris in November and Brussels in March.

jar/cmk (AP, Reuters)