(VOVworld) – US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the US Congress to authorise the White House to fight the Islamic State and not rule out using ground troops.

US Secretary of State John Kerry testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on “Authorization for the Use of Military Force against IS” on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 9, 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday that Washington should not neglect threats from the IS. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the war against IS is progressing and Iraq is starting to call for military support. At a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, Hagel said Washington will provide Iraq with weapons, including the surface-to-air Hellfire missile, training courses, and military advisors.