This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30459105
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US Senate backs anti-IS spending | US Senate backs anti-IS spending |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US Senate has approved a new annual defence bill expanding the military campaign against Islamic State (IS). | The US Senate has approved a new annual defence bill expanding the military campaign against Islamic State (IS). |
| The bill approves a general Pentagon budget of $496bn (£316bn) plus $64bn for US wars abroad. | The bill approves a general Pentagon budget of $496bn (£316bn) plus $64bn for US wars abroad. |
| The measure also authorises the training and equipping of moderate Syrian rebel fighters for two years. | The measure also authorises the training and equipping of moderate Syrian rebel fighters for two years. |
| The bill had already been passed by the House of Representatives and has now been sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law. | The bill had already been passed by the House of Representatives and has now been sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law. |
| The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) had been the subject of cross-party talks for several months. | The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) had been the subject of cross-party talks for several months. |
| Until now, US operations against IS had been funded from the existing Pentagon budget. | Until now, US operations against IS had been funded from the existing Pentagon budget. |
| The new bill approves $3.4bn for the direct deployment of US forces against IS, and a further $1.6bn for training Iraqi Kurdish forces for two years. | The new bill approves $3.4bn for the direct deployment of US forces against IS, and a further $1.6bn for training Iraqi Kurdish forces for two years. |
| Democrat Senator Carl Levin said that US air power had "changed the momentum on the ground" but added that IS "cannot be defeated without an opposing force to take the fight to it". | Democrat Senator Carl Levin said that US air power had "changed the momentum on the ground" but added that IS "cannot be defeated without an opposing force to take the fight to it". |
| 'Warthogs' stay | 'Warthogs' stay |
| The bill rejected President Obama's request to approve the closure of the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay. | The bill rejected President Obama's request to approve the closure of the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay. |
| It also extended a ban on transferring inmates from the prison to the US. | It also extended a ban on transferring inmates from the prison to the US. |
| The bill protected for another year the fleet of ageing A-10 "Warthog" ground-support aircraft, whose retirement had been proposed. | |
| A 1% pay rise for military personnel was also agreed. | A 1% pay rise for military personnel was also agreed. |
| Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lauded the bill, saying "it enhances our efforts to keep our warfighters safe on the battlefield, and it authorises the resources needed to responsibly conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan". | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lauded the bill, saying "it enhances our efforts to keep our warfighters safe on the battlefield, and it authorises the resources needed to responsibly conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan". |