Islamic State crisis: US House approves Obama Syria plan

The US House of Representatives has approved President Barack Obama's plan to train and arm the moderate Syrian opposition which is taking on Islamic State. 

The vote passed by a large majority in the Republican-controlled House is expected to be adopted in the Senate. 

The endorsement came after President Obama repeated that he would not be committing American combat troops to ground operations in Iraq. 

The US has undertaken 174 airstrikes against IS in Iraq since mid-August.

Mr Obama's new strategy plans similar attacks in Syria and calls on a coalition of 40 countries to confront the militant group.

BBC