President Obama meets with his National Security Council . Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos:Photos: 275 U.S. troops headed to Iraq . His comments are the first time such a high-ranking U.S. official has made such a public statement since militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria began an offensive that has seen vast swaths of northern Iraq fall out of government hands . U.S. officials : Administration considering unarmed surveillance flights , airstrikes .
President Obama meets with his National Security Council . Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos:Photos: 275 U.S. troops headed to Iraq . U.S. officials : Administration considering unarmed surveillance flights , airstrikes .