House GOP: No ground troops in Mideast plan

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are proposing to authorize a mission to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels with an explicit ban on deploying U.S. ground forces to fight the Islamic State group.

The language will likely be included as an amendment to a spending bill this week to keep the government open.

A House Armed Services Committee aide says the authorization would also compel the Pentagon to present Congress with a plan 15 days before training begins. The aide wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the record about ongoing deliberations and demanded anonymity.

The mission is a central plank of President Barack Obama’s strategy to fight the Islamic State group.

Democrats are reviewing the GOP’s proposal.

BRADLEY KLAPPER AND DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press