Obama Seeks $500 Million to Arm Moderate Syrian Forces

President Barack Obama asked Congress to approve $500 million to arm and train “moderate” Syrian rebels fighting Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as the administration seeks to rein in Sunni extremists whose fight has spilled across the Syrian border into Iraq.

“Appropriately vetted elements of the moderate Syrian armed opposition,” would receive the aid through the U.S. Defense Department, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement.