U.S. Congress poised to approve aid to moderate Syrian rebels

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress appeared poised on Tuesday to quickly approve President Barack Obama's plan to arm and train Syrian rebels, a major part of the effort he announced this week to fight Islamic State militants.

The House of Representatives began debating an amendment to a stopgap funding bill that would authorise support for the moderate rebels, who are fighting both the Islamic State and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.