U.S. to send 300 troops to Iraq, but hold off on air strikes

President Obama authorized additional military assistance for Iraq's fight against advancing Islamist militants Thursday, but made clear that he will continue to hold back more substantive support, including U.S. air strikes, until he sees a direct threat to U.S. personnel or a more inclusive and capable Iraqi government.

Obama said he would send up to 300 additional Special Operations troops to better assess the situation on the ground, where forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have moved ever nearer to Baghdad, and to determine "how we can best train, advise, and support Iraqi security forces going forward."

With the "situational awareness" provided by the advisers and with intelligence assets being increased in and around Iraq, Obama said, "we will be prepared to take targeted and precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on the ground requires it."

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