Obama Says Congress Vote on Islamic State Shows United Front

U.S. Congress voted to back President Barack Obama's fight against the Islamic State this week by arming moderate Syrian rebels to combat the growing terrorist organization.

The Senate voted 78 to 22 in approval of Obama's plan to arm moderate Syrian rebels in their fight against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. The House of Representatives also gave its approval, and the president said in a statement that the bipartisan support showed the United States' united front in the war on ending terror.

"The strong bipartisan support in Congress for this new training effort shows the world that Americans are united in confronting the threat from ISIL, which has slaughtered so many innocent civilians," Obama said in his statement, made Thursday at the White House.

"Today's vote is another step closer to having the authorization to train and equip vetted elements of the moderate Syrian opposition so they can defend themselves against, and ultimately push back on, ISIL forces in Syria, while creating the conditions for the political solution necessary to solve Syria's crisis once and for all," Obama continued.

The president reiterated his commitment to keeping U.S. combat troops off Iraqi soil, saying the recent congressional vote proves the U.S. "can join with allies and partners to destroy ISIL without American troops fighting another ground war in the Middle East."

Politicians in Congress have expressed their apprehension at approving any war-related measure, especially as elections are upcoming in November and they do not want to further aggravate an already war-weary country.

"It is not pleasant. It is not easy. It's hard," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said of this week's vote. "But it really is necessary for the House to approve this."