Around 80 U.S. military personnel have deployed to the country of Chad to aid in the rescue of hundreds of Nigerian girls abducted last month, President Obama said Wednesday.
In a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Obama said they will help with reconnaissance aircraft missions in the northern region of neighboring Nigeria, where the girls were abducted, in addition to providing other support. The armed forces will also aid in intelligence and surveillance operations. [READ THE LETTER HERE.]
{mosads}The president said the military personnel would remain in the country until their support in resolving the kidnapping “is no longer needed.”
“This action has been directed in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive,” Obama said in the War Powers notification to Congress.
The administration has already sent law enforcement and intelligence experts to Nigeria to help with the rescue of more than 200 girls who were abducted last month by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
A few Republicans have pressed the administration to send special forces units to help in the rescue effort, but the White House has rejected those calls, saying that U.S. forces are acting only in a supporting role.