THE U.S. House of Representatives approved President Barack Obama’s plan Wednesday to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels.

    The House voted to authorize the plan, a test of support for Obama’s stepped-up campaign to “degrade and destroy” Islamic State fighters who have seized a third of both Iraq and Syria, declared war on the West and seek to establish a caliphate in the heart of the Middle East.

    Written as an amendment to a stopgap spending bill, the measure does not include any money to pay for the arms and training.

    The spending bill — including the training plan — will only go to Obama to be signed into law after it passes the Senate, expected to come as early as Thursday in the United States.

    The authorization backed by the House lasts only until Dec. 11, the day the spending bill expires.

    The amendment does not provide details about the training plan, prompting lawmakers to fear that a “yes” vote could mean authorizing shipments of military equipment that might end up in the wrong hands and possibly even kill Americans.

    “There are too many unanswered questions for me to support this amendment,” said Representative Barbara Lee, a California Democrat. “How will we ensure that the United States weapons we are providing to Syrian rebels will not get into the wrong hands?” (SD-Agencies)