A U.S. official says American special forces will go into northern Syria "very soon" on their mission to help coordinate local fighters and the efforts of a U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State militants.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Brett McGurk said Sunday during an appearance on CBS television's "Face the Nation" that while the troops are going into Syria, the U.S. will not say exactly when that will happen.
President Barack Obama last month authorized up to 50 troops for the mission that will involve working with local Syrian forces, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen fighters.
McGurk said the United States is at war with the Islamic State group and that the entire international community needs to be as well.
He also responded to criticism that the U.S. has been moving too slowly to confront the militants in Iraq and Syria, saying efforts have recently accelerated and that the coming push toward the Islamic State de facto capital in Raqqa, Syria could not have happened six months ago.