WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the Administration’s announced plan to deploy Special Operations Forces to Syria:

“While I’m firmly against a large-scale commitment of troops to combat ISIS, I support the President’s decision to send a small force to northern Syria and to deploy additional air power to Turkey. This is a narrow, limited, advise-and-assist effort that will help to loosen ISIS’s grip on territory in Syria and support our partners on the ground.  By assisting Syrian forces struggling against ISIS, we're helping to ensure that we don’t need a larger influx of American forces in the future.”

“Because Congress has failed to do its job and pass a new authorization for the use of military force, the Administration is forced to rely on authorities from 2001.  I hope our new Speaker, Mr. Ryan, will do the right thing and allow a vote on a new authorization to establish clear, tailored guidance for the fight against ISIS.”

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