Obama's top advisers recommend escalating U.S. military role in Iraq and Syria

In a move that could significantly escalate America's role in the fight against the Islamic State, President Obama's senior national security advisors recommended moving U.S. troops closer to the front lines in Iraq and Syria, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The proposal, which still requires approval from Obama, would put a small number of Special Operations forces on the ground in Syria for the first time and move U.S. advisors closer to the front lines in Iraq. The recommendations signal the White House's growing frustrations with the stalemate against the Islamic State, as well as Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter's press for a greater U.S. military presence in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

The proposals would not put the United States directly into a combat role, The Washington Post reports, and present an alternative to the no-fly zone favored by a number of experts and politicians, including Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton. A no-fly zone, which would require thousands of ground troops, was not favored by any of Obama's policy advisors.

Obama, who requested the recommendations, is expected to make a decision on a course of action as soon as this week.

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