Faced with domestic pressure for a fitting response, US President Barack Obama is now reported to be open to the idea of ordering airstrikes against the Islamic State militants in their strongholds in Syria, thereby opening a new front in the military offensive against the terror outfit.
Ahead of a much-awaited address to the nation on Wednesday night, there was no definitive word from the White House on Obama’s precise course of action, but senior officials were quoted as saying that he was now “prepared” to authorise airstrikes in Syria.
Significantly, Obama, who met with top leaders of the US Congress on Tuesday, took the stand that would not need a congressional authorisation, saying “he has the authority he needs to take action against ISIl in accordance with the mission he will lay out in his address”.
He, however, told the leaders of both parties that he would still welcome action from Congress that would “aid the overall effort and demonstrate to the world that the United States is united in defeating the threat”.
“Tonight you will hear from the President how the United States will pursue a comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIl, including US military action and support for the forces combating ISIl on the ground — both the opposition in Syria and a new, inclusive Iraqi Government,” the White House said in a statement Wednesday.
“The President will discuss how we are building a coalition of Allies and partners in the region and in the broader international community to support our efforts, and will talk about how we work with the Congress as a partner in these efforts,” the statement said.
Although Republicans are known to favour strong action against ISIS, some of its senior leaders insist that the President should seek Congressional approval for what he proposes to do. “I think it is to his advantage and the country’s advantage to have Congress buy into that,” Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said.
Obama, who drew flak a fortnight ago for his public admission that he does not have a strategy yet to deal with ISIS, has been under mounting pressure, with the brutal manner in which two American journalists have been killed by the militants.
In the wake of these killings, American public opinion appears to have significantly shifted in favour of decisive military action against ISIS not only in Iraq, but in Syria as well.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll, released on Tuesday, said that 65 per cent of Americans now support expanding airstrikes against the Islamic militants in Syrian – more than double the level of support a year ago when Obama contemplated airstrikes to punish the Assad regime over the chemical weapons issue.
A CNN-ORC poll found 76 per cent of Americans supporting additional airstrikes against ISIS targets. But a majority (61 per cent) are opposed to the idea of deploying US troops either in Iraq or Syria – something that Obama anyway has ruled out repeatedly.
Obama, meanwhile, is stepping up his efforts to broaden the recently-formed 10-nation coalition by enlisting the support of Islamic countries and others in the region. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Baghdad on Wednesday, was set to proceed to Saudi Arabia as part of the coalition-building exercise.