$100 Million New U.S. Assistance to Syrian Rebels
HARLOW: Rebel groups fighting the Syrian government will soon get nearly $100 million in new U.S. assistance. That word today from a State Department official. And just yesterday in a significant escalation in the war against ISIS. President Obama, who was elected on a campaign pledge to involvement overseas, he's committed a small number of U.S. ground troops to Syria. Our Chris Frates has more.</s>CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, about two dozen Special Operation forces are heading to Syria, bringing U.S. troops that much closer to the front lines. (on camera): President Obama secretly told Ash Carter a few months ago he wanted faster progress in the war against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq and to come up with a plan, a U.S. official says. Now the president has ordered a small number of Special Operations soldiers into Syria to help local forces fight</s>ISIS. JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president does expect that they can have an impact in intensifying our strategy for building the capacity of local forces inside of Syria to taking the fight on the ground to</s>ISIL. FRATES: The teams, no more than 50 troops total, could include members of the elite Delta Force and Green Berets, as well as Navy SEALs. Their mission, to provide ammunition, communications and intelligence and supplies to Arab and Kurdish forces on the ground. Until now, the president had long said he would not put troops in combat, especially in Syria, and the White House insists that's still true.</s>EARNEST: These forces do not have a combat mission. This is not in any way an attempt to diminish the risk that they will face or the bravery that they will need to summon to carry out these operations.</s>FRATES: Secretary Carter did not discuss the ground troops while meeting servicemembers in Alaska Friday night, but did say ISIS is one of the biggest threats.</s>ASH CARTER, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We've got to beat ISIS. We're going to beat ISIL. These guys are evil and they are -- you know, we are, as I said, the noble and they are the evil, and we are the many and they are the few. And fundamentally, we are the strong. So we will beat them. And we're doing that now and figuring out how to get better at it.</s>FRATES (on camera): Special Operations forces are expected to be sent from Iraq, across the border into northern Syria. The U.S. will use F-15 and A-10 jets launched from an air base in southern Turkey, all part of an effort to help anti-ISIS forces take back ISIS's self- proclaimed capital city of Raqqa. But make no mistake, Poppy, Obama wanted to avoid troops on the ground where they'll likely end up in combat situations. And today, the State Department announced the U.S. will give about $100 million in new aid to the Syrian opposition. The money will provide support to local officials, first responders, and other civil needs. And since 2012, the U.S. has given almost $500 million total in aid to the Syrian opposition -- Poppy?</s>HARLOW: Chris, thank you very much. Coming up next, Jeb Bush on a mission to reassure his donors.</s>JEB BUSH, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: It's not on life support. We have the most money. We have the greatest organization. We're doing fine.</s>HARLOW: The internal memo revealing his strategy going forward. Will it be enough to re-energize his campaign? Back in a moment.