The White House is expected to send Congress a proposal for the use of military force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by Wednesday, according to two congressional aides.

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The request for authorization for use of military force (AUMF) would allow members of Congress to formally approve the Obama administration's campaign against ISIS, six months after a U.S.-led air campaign against the group began.



An aide to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) was less definitive on the timeline for the resolution, saying only that the request would come "as soon as this week.”



"At that point, the committee will hold rigorous hearings in which the administration can provide greater clarity on the U.S. strategy regarding ISIS, particularly in Syria," the aide said.



Citing war powers approved after the 9/11 attacks, Obama deployed the first batch of 3,100 troops to serve as “advisers” in teh fight against ISIS in mid-June before starting a bombing campaign in August. The U.S.-led coalition has conducted more than 2,250 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria so far.



Several Democratic lawmakers in Congress have called for a new force resolution, arguing the White House should get Congress’s backing for the military campaign.



Republican leaders say it's up to the White House to send over a formal request for the war powers.



While the White House supports a new force resolution against ISIS, officials insist the president already has the authority he needs to pursue the terrorist group under the 2001 resolution against Al-Qaeda and "associated forces.”



The new resolution is expected to spark fierce debate among lawmakers over whether the administration's strategy against ISIS is working, whether U.S. ground troops should be explicitly ruled out, and for how long the authority should last.



The White House has said the proposed resolution will be coming “relatively soon,” after Obama vowed to seek one in last month’s State of the Union address.