Ben Rhodes, a national security adviser for the president, said in a press briefing Monday that Obama would announce that an additional 250 USA military personnel would be deployed to Syria in a non-combat role. The leaders are likely to discuss how they can work with a newly installed, United Nations -backed unity government to keep IS extremists from further tightening their grip on the North African country.
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“They’re not going to be leading the fight on the ground, but they will be essential in providing the training and assisting local forces”, Obama said during a speech in Hannover, Germany, that capped a week-long trip that also took him to Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
Obama’s announcement of the American troops, which capped a six-day tour to the Middle East and Europe, reflected a steady deepening of US military engagement, despite the president’s professed reluctance to dive further into another Middle East conflict.
“Even as European countries make important contributions against ISIL, Europe, including North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, can still do more”, Mr. Obama said.
The move, which will increase the number of USA service members operating in the country to about 300, comes amid an administration review of how to extend recent gains against the terrorist network.
The intent is not to have the forces on the front lines or engaged in direct combat, Cook said.
The deployment is expected to be officially announced during remarks by the US President at the Hanover Messe fairgrounds later today.
The plan was announced by U.S. officials ahead of a meeting in Germany today attended by Mr Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister David Cameron.
The president delivered the news in Hannover, Germany while visiting a major industrial trade fair.
The US President, however, offered an assurance that the US-led coalition would continue to strike Islamic State targets in places like Raqqa, try to isolate and lock down those portions of the country that are sending foreign fighters into Europe.
It said the shellings violated the cessation of hostilities agreement brokered by the United States and Russian Federation, which took effect in western parts of the country in February.
Obama is in Hanover meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Both the moves aim to help Iraqi forces in reoccupying the key northern city of Mosul.
As he arrived in Germany on Sunday, Obama made a strong pitch for US-EU trade.
Libya since has descended into chaos and become a base for ISIS. But the president said Sunday that would require a large number of ground troops – a commitment he is still unwilling to make. “They’re being sent there on a mission to be advising and assisting and supporting the forces that are fighting ISIL on the ground”.
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“These are unsettling times and when the future is uncertain there seems to be an instinct in human nature to withdraw to the perceived comfort of our own tribe, our own sect, our own nationality: people who look like us, sound like us”, he said.
