House Republicans are drafting a resolution that would authorize the Obama administration to train and equip Syrian rebels, senior congressional aides said. It would be ready for the House floor as early as Tuesday.
The resolution would not authorize any money, but would allow contributions from foreign governments, a senior House Armed Services Committee aide said. President Obama has asked for $500 million, which the Pentagon says could train 5,000 fighters in a year.
Saudi Arabia has said it would host the program. The kingdom has long lobbied for the U.S. to support moderate Syrian rebels, but U.S. officials have been concerned about rebel ties to Islamist extremists, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Now that the Islamic State has grown in power and seized territory in Iraq, there’s a greater willingness in Washington to reconsider that option.
The resolution explicitly states that U.S. troops would not be authorized to go into combat. The senior aide said that would require a separate authorization.
The resolution also would require strict congressional oversight of the program. The Pentagon would have to submit a report to Congress 15 days before arming and training the rebels and provide progress reports every 90 days.
It’s not clear how or when the measure could come to the floor, but it appears to have widespread support. Democrats have largely lined up to back a measure to train Syrian rebels.
The House Rules Committee is considering a continuing resolution to fund the government through mid-December, and could meet as early as Monday evening to approve it for floor consideration. The senior aide said it could be brought to the floor either as an amendment to the funding measure or as a separate resolution.
“That’s the leadership’s call,” the aide said.
