Washington (CNN) -- U.S.
President Barack Obama has authorized reconnaissance flights over Syria as ISIS
militants continue to gain ground in the war-ravaged nation, a U.S. official
told CNN. The flights -- seen as a
forerunner of possible U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Syria -- could begin at
any point, the official said Monday. "In general, when you're thinking about
conducting operations like that, you certainly want to get as much of a view on
the ground as you can," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said
earlier Monday in a conversation with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "Satellites can provide you good
visibility, but you always want closer eyes on target if you can," Kirby
said, before Obama's decision was made public.
Concerns have been intensifying over the threat posed by ISIS after the
extremist group posted a video last week showing the beheading of captive American
journalist James Foley. The United
States has already been gathering intelligence on the locations of ISIS
leadership and troops in Syria, two U.S. officials told CNN on Friday.
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