President authorizes fewer than 50 U.S. troops to Northern Syria-official

President Barack Obama has authorized deploying fewer than 50 U.S. special operations forces to northern Syria to work with local ground forces fighting Islamic State, a senior administration official said.

To further counter the militant group, Obama also has authorized deploying A-10s and F-15 aircraft to Incirlik air base in Turkey, the enhancement of military assistance to Jordan and Lebanon and talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to target Islamic State's leaders and networks, the official said.