This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29145664
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Barack Obama to lay out plan to defeat Islamic State | Barack Obama to lay out plan to defeat Islamic State |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama is due to lay out a strategy to "destroy" Islamic State militants "wherever they exist". | |
He is reportedly set to approve the first US air strikes in Syria and increase US military aid for non-IS Syrian rebels in a televised speech. | |
Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Middle East trying to build a coalition against IS. 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. |
Analysis: Barbara Plett-Usher, BBC News, Baghdad | |
An inclusive Iraqi government was the condition the Americans set for increased US and Nato military support. But a senior state department official said Mr Kerry was mostly talking to leaders about Baghdad's role in the global coalition against Islamic State. | |
The US wants to see speedy moves by the Shia majority to meet the grievances of the disgruntled Sunnis and Kurds, so all can form a united front against IS. | |
That is an enormous challenge, given that many disputed issues have deep structural roots. But the US official said a significant step would be the creation of regional armed forces or national guard units, a decision taken in the wake of criticism that the army had been used as a sectarian tool by the former Shia prime minister. | |
'Degrade and destroy' | 'Degrade and destroy' |
In an excerpt released ahead of the speech, Mr Obama said that his objective is to "degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - the previous name for IS] through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy". | |
He will add that the campaign will be different from interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan and that there would be no American troops on the ground. | |
"This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground", he will say. | |
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 Assad government. | |
Last year, Mr Obama came to the brink of launching air strikes against Syrian government forces over their use of chemical weapons. | 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. | He shelved that plan after he failed to build a sufficient coalition, and Syria agreed to destroy its stockpiles. |
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 more powers 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. |