Obama Asks Congress for $11.6Bln More for Anti-Daesh Push, Afghan Efforts

US President Barack Obama has formally asked Congress to allocate $11.6 billion to support US operations against Daesh, security in Afghanistan and nondefense programs, according to a letter issued by the White House.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Obama’s supplementary spending includes an additional $5.8 billion, earmarked for the Department of State and the US Agency for International Development, to support the administration's anti-Daesh and counterterrorism objectives. Among these are efforts in diplomatic engagement, governance and stabilization, and for strengthening US embassies’ security as well as humanitarian relief and recovery.

“These amendments would provide $5.8 billion for [US Department of Defense] activities to support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, and to degrade and ultimately defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including through military operations as part of Operation Inherent Resolve,” Obama said in letter.

Responding to the request, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that Obama’s $5.8 billion budget amendment would help fund additional US troops in Afghanistan.

"In addition to enhancing our effort to defeat ISIL [Islamic State], this plan would fund the President's decision to adjust our troop levels to better support the Afghan government's strategy to secure its nation, and would help enhance Afghanistan's aviation capability," the statement said on Thursday.

Secretary of State John Kerry said some of the funds would be used to increase security at US diplomatic missions threatened by Daesh.

In July, Obama announced that the United States will keep 8,400 US military personnel in Afghanistan until the end of the current administration, despite previous plans to reduce the number to 5,500.