Sunni Militants are Still Winning New Territory and Threatening U.S. Facilities

by WAKA Action 8 News

Sunni militants are still winning new territory and threatening U.S. facilities in and around Baghdad…and that’s prompted President Obama to step up U-S security for American personnel.  

Craig Boswell is at the White House with more details…

President Obama is sending some US forces back to Iraq – as the security situation continues to unravel.

The President gave Congress notice 275 troops are going in to protect US personnel and the American Embassy.

He’s also looking at deploying a special forces team to train Iraqis.

And drone strikes are still a possibility against ISIS.

ISIS is a Sunni militant group trying to establish an Islamic State in parts of Iraq and Syria. It released this video reportedly showing the moments before fighters executed Shiites serving in the Iraqi army.

The militants march toward Baghdad threatens to tear apart the country along religious lines.

As President Obama continues to weighs what military action the US may take.. some lawmakers are growing impatient.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader says:

“THE PRESIDENT MUST QUICKLY PROVIDE US WITH A STRATEGY AND A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE TREAT POSED BY THE INSUREGENCY.”

Former US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told CBS This Morning the administration should also step up its diplomatic game.

Ryan Crocker Fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq…

“SECRETARY KERRY IN MY VIEW NEEDS TO BE ON A PLANE TO BAGHDAD RIGHT NOW”

Crocker says the focus should be helping the Shiite-led Iraqi government bridge this Shiite-Sunni divide. 

In a sign of how far the sectarian divide goes, Iraq’s Shiite-led government issued a statement Tuesday blaming the violence in its country on the Sunni dominated Saudi Arabian government.