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| Barack Obama to lay out plan to defeat Islamic State | Barack Obama to lay out plan to defeat Islamic State |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama is due to lay out his strategy to defeat Islamic State militants, in a televised speech. | US President Barack Obama is due to lay out his strategy to defeat Islamic State militants, in a televised speech. |
| He is reportedly set to approve air strikes in Syria for the first time, and also wants to send US military trainers there to help rebels fight IS. | He is reportedly set to approve air strikes in Syria for the first time, and also wants to send US military trainers there to help rebels fight IS. |
| Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Middle East trying to build a coalition against IS, and Mr Obama's allies are canvassing support in Congress. | Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Middle East trying to build a coalition against IS, and Mr Obama's allies are canvassing support in Congress. |
| IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. | IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. |
| The jihadist group now runs a de facto government from the Syrian city of Raqqa, employing officials and administrators. | The jihadist group now runs a de facto government from the Syrian city of Raqqa, employing officials and administrators. |
| Its fighters have become notorious for their brutality, beheading enemy soldiers and Western journalists on video. | Its fighters have become notorious for their brutality, beheading enemy soldiers and Western journalists on video. |
| Where regional powers stand | Where regional powers stand |
| Islamic State: What key countries think | Islamic State: What key countries think |
| The US military has carried out scores of air strikes in Iraq, where it can claim the support of the government. | The US military has carried out scores of air strikes in Iraq, where it can claim the support of the government. |
| Mr Obama has already authorised $25m (£15m) in aid for the Iraqi military. | Mr Obama has already authorised $25m (£15m) in aid for the Iraqi military. |
| But any announcement about Syria is likely to be far more controversial. | But any announcement about Syria is likely to be far more controversial. |
| 'Degrade and destroy' | |
| The US president has backed rebels fighting the Syrian government for the past three and a half years. | The US president has backed rebels fighting the Syrian government for the past three and a half years. |
| His plan to fund and train those same rebels to fight against IS would be likely to anger Syria. | His plan to fund and train those same rebels to fight against IS would be likely to anger Syria. |
| It is not clear how the US could legally launch air strikes in Syria without the permission of the government. | It is not clear how the US could legally launch air strikes in Syria without the permission of the government. |
| Last year, Mr Obama came to the brink of launching air strikes against Syrian government forces over their use of chemical weapons. | |
| He shelved that plan after he failed to build a sufficient coalition, and Syria agreed to destroy its stockpiles. | |
| A White House official said Mr Obama would clarify "how the United States will pursue a comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL [Islamic State]". | A White House official said Mr Obama would clarify "how the United States will pursue a comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL [Islamic State]". |
| The official said this would include "US military action and support for the forces combating ISIL on the ground". | The official said this would include "US military action and support for the forces combating ISIL on the ground". |
| Opinion polls now show a majority of Americans in favour of some kind of action against IS. | Opinion polls now show a majority of Americans in favour of some kind of action against IS. |
| But Mr Obama still faces a huge challenge to get approval for his plans. | But Mr Obama still faces a huge challenge to get approval for his plans. |
| Mr Kerry was in Iraq earlier on Wednesday, where he praised the new government's plans to devolve power to the Sunni Muslim minority and build better ties with the Kurds. | Mr Kerry was in Iraq earlier on Wednesday, where he praised the new government's plans to devolve power to the Sunni Muslim minority and build better ties with the Kurds. |
| Many Sunnis who felt sidelined by the previous Shia-led administration backed Islamic State. | Many Sunnis who felt sidelined by the previous Shia-led administration backed Islamic State. |
| Mr Kerry said the new Iraqi government had to be the "engine" for the global fight against IS. | Mr Kerry said the new Iraqi government had to be the "engine" for the global fight against IS. |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius earlier said his government would contribute to air strikes against IS. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius earlier said his government would contribute to air strikes against IS. |
| Mr Obama also spoke to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah earlier in the day, | Mr Obama also spoke to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah earlier in the day, |
| Analysts say the kingdom, which has backed Sunni groups around the Middle East, is crucial to any effort to build a coalition against IS. | Analysts say the kingdom, which has backed Sunni groups around the Middle East, is crucial to any effort to build a coalition against IS. |