President Obama announced a counterterrorism strategy against the Islamic State that will include airstrikes in Syria as well as Iraq and will see 475 additional US troops dispatched to Iraq; the US will lead a “broad coalition” against the IS, and the strategy will center around US air power supporting “partner forces on the ground.” He also urged Congress to approve $500 million to train and equip “moderate” Syrian rebels, and vowed that the US “will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq.” Secretary of State Kerry said US ground troops would be deployed in Iraq only if “very dramatic” changes called for it. A senior official said the US is very concerned that instability in Libya is conducive to its use by terrorists sending weapons and fighters to Iraq and Syria; he also said some militias there have expressed interest in IS.
