President Barack Obama asked Congress on Wednesday to formally authorize the use of military force in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, according to news sources.

 

“If left unchecked, ISIL will pose a threat to beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland,” Obama said in a letter to Congress.

 

Obama explained that the draft resolution would give him the authority to authorize “ground combat operation in limited circumstances,” CNN reported. The circumstances include rescue operations and special forces operations to “take military action against ISIL leadership.”

 

The proposal outlined in the letter, won’t authorize “long-term, large-scale ground combat operations like those our Nation conducted in Iraq or Afghanistan."

 

The proposal was sent to Congress soon after the confirmation of the death of Kayla Mueller, 26, an American aid worker held by ISIL. The draft legislation specifically mentioned her as well as three other Americans who were held hostage and killed by the Islamic State as reason to justify taking military action, the New York Times reported. 

 

This is the first time a U.S. President has asked for this approval from congress in 13 years, CNN reported.