WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House has voted to give President Barack Obama the authority for the U.S. military to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels.
The bipartisan vote was 273-156 on Wednesday.
The Senate is expected to back the program as early as Thursday. It is one part of the military's fight against Islamic State militants.
The vote came as Obama sought to reassure lawmakers and Americans who fear the United States will be drawn into another ground war. Obama said anew that American forces will not have a combat mission.
The vote was a rare win for Obama who made his request last week for the authority.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.
