Responding Thursday to President Barack Obama's announced strategy to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, House Speaker John Boehner conveyed an unusual message of unity as he supported the effort.

While admitting that House Republicans are divided on support for the president, Boehner soberly vowed to aid the president in his quest to fight ISIS, also known as ISIL. Obama had briefed Boehner on Tuesday about his plans for U.S. intervention in Iraq and Syria, along with a coalition of allies, to confront the growing ISIS threat

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Boehner said the president clearly stated his position that U.S. troops would not engage in ground combat, so it was essential to give the president the support he needed to destroy the Islamic terrorists. Boehner said it was important "at this point in time" to give the president what he asked for to defeat ISIL.

Obama gave a national address Wednesday night outlining his plans to take on ISIL with military force and political initiatives. In a rare display of bipartisan agreement, leaders of both parties in Congress lined up to support the effort.

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the second-ranking Democratic party leader, said the time had come to put aside partisan politics to support the president and stand together against ISIS. All Americans needed to unite behind America's military effort, he said.

Many others in Congress also supported the president's initiative. The big question, however, was whether they all would support the logistics of anti-ISIL operations. The administration was looking to hold two votes to back up the new effort, one vote for funding and one for authorization to train Syrian opposition groups confronting the Al-Assad regime.

TagsISIS, Obama, John Boehner, Congress, Foreign Policy, isis iraq, House Republicans, House Demcrats, richard durbin, bipartisan, war, U.S. politics