The U.S. House of Representatives has approved President Obama's plan to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels, according to The Associated Press.
The House voted 273-to-156 to authorize the plan, the AP reported. Written as an amendment to a stopgap spending bill, the measure does not include any money to pay for the arms and training, and passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Voting for the amendment were 159 Republicans and 114 Democrats, while 71 Republicans and 85 Democrats, respectibely, voted against it, according to the AP.
In a statement following the vote, Obama said the House "took an important step forward as our nation unites to confront the threat posed" by the Islamic State group, showing bipartisan support for a "critical component" of his strategy against the extremists, the AP reported.
The spending bill also includes a training plan, but will only go to Obama to be signed into law after it passes the Senate, expected to come as early as Thursday, the AP reported.
Officials put a $500 million price tag on Obama's request to train and equip rebels, according to the AP.
The cost of the plan did not cause arguments among lawmakers, who focused instead on the possible consequences of a new military mission not long afterthe U.S. ended participation in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the AP reported.
The authorization backed by the House lasts only until Dec. 11, the day the spending bill expires, but the bill allows the Pentagon to later submit requests to shift funds within the budget if it decides it needs funds to pay for the program, according to the AP.
The amendment does not provide details about the training plan, prompting lawmakers to fear that a "yes" vote could mean authorizing shipments of military equipment that might end up in the wrong hands and possibly even kill Americans, the AP reported.
