Smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike
Smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. Reuters

A top counterterrorism official in the United States has warned of an increase in the number of foreign fighters travelling abroad to join ISIS militants in the Middle East. The rise in number has been noted at an alarming rate.

National Counterrorism Centre director Nicholas Rasmussen said more than 20,000 fighters from 90 countries left their homes to fight alongside militants in the battlefield. According to a statement obtained by CNN, Rasmussen declared that the rate of foreign fighters travelling to Syria is “unprecedented.”

The counterterrorism official said the rate is higher than those of travelers who went to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia or Yemen in the past two decades. Rasmussen revealed that out of more than 20,000, about 3,400 people came from Western nations. About 150 of them are U.S. citizens.

While the U.S. and its allies continue to develop strategies to stop the flow of foreign fighters, officials believe counterterrorism laws should be strengthened. Rasmussen said ISIS supporters exploited several modes of transportation to enter Syria.

He cited the visa-free travel arrangements that Turkey has with over 69 countries. ISIS supporters can use this fact to their advantage. In an effort to stem the arrival and departure of foreign fighters, Turkey has recently developed additional strategies to deny entry to possible foreign fighters.

Reuters reports that the U.S. had delivered weapons to the Lebanese army worth more than $25 million. The weapons supply includes heavy artillery to help government forces fight militant groups in Lebanon. David Hale, the U.S. ambassador to Beirut, said in a statement that the weapons from the U.S. military will be used to eliminate the threat of terrorists and militants from Syria. In behalf of the U.S. government, Hale declared that Lebanon is “fighting the same enemy” the U.S. has responded swiftly.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed his intention to put boots on the ground to fight ISIS militants. The New York Times reports that the Obama administration has signaled lawmakers of Mr. Obama’s plan to seek formal authorisation. The request would include the condition to limit the engagement of troops to three years and prohibit the use of “enduring offensive ground forces.”

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