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Obama expands bombing in Syria to support U.S.-backed rebels

 
Published Aug. 4, 2015

WASHINGTON — The White House has expanded its bombing campaign in Syria to help defend a small Pentagon-backed force against other armed insurgent groups or government security forces, U.S. officials said Monday.

The decision by President Barack Obama to broaden the air war potentially increases the danger that the U.S. military could wind up in a confrontation with forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Until now, the U.S.-led air campaign that began last August had targeted only the Islamic State group. The policy shift came to light after several dozen U.S.-trained fighters at a compound in northern Syria were attacked Friday by militants from the Nusra Front, a group linked to al-Qaida.

For the first time, U.S. warplanes soon swept in to help defend the fighters, who were able to call in the air support.

The Pentagon has publicly downplayed the risk that Assad's forces would fire on U.S. aircraft, and officials stressed Monday they still consider that unlikely.

"We are not at war with the Assad regime," said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.