WASHINGTON, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - US Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham urged the Obama administration to intensify the fight against the Islamic State (IS), a press release issued by McCain’s press office said.
“Degrading and ultimately destroying ISIS will require additional actions that we have long advocated, such as the deployment of US Special Forces and military advisers on the ground to direct airstrikes and advise our local partners; the expansion of assistance for moderate Syrian forces, and the establishment of safe zones protected by no fly zones in Syria,” the Monday statement read.
Although the Senators applauded President Obama’s decision to arm and supply Kurdish forces in Kobani, the duo criticized Obama for lacking an effective overall strategy against IS.
“We continue to urge the Administration to quickly adopt a comprehensive strategy and avoid the perils of gradual escalation – in Kobani and in the broader fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. This will only lead to an unnecessary loss of life and reduce our chances of success, as we have learned in other conflicts,” the release also stated.
McCain and Graham’s statement did not focus on defeating IS alone, it also mentioned that the White House should take appropriate measures to defeat the Assad regime, pave the way for a political solution and end the conflict in Syria.
For the past several weeks Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, one of the largest towns in the Kurdish region of Syria bordering Turkey, has been under attack of the IS militants.
The IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, the group extended its attacks to northern and western Iraq and declared an Islamic caliphate on the territories under its control.
A US-led international coalition is currently carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in both countries.
