Washington, June 19 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama says he does not need congressional approval about his upcoming decision on possible military intervention in Iraq, where al-Qaeda-linked militants have taken over several cities.

On Wednesday, Obama met with senior members of Congress and discussed options for helping Baghdad halt the advance of the militants of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) towards the Iraqi capital. He told the top Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate that he would let them know what was going on.

According to a White House statement, Obama outlined U.S. efforts to "strengthen the capacity of Iraq's security forces to confront the threat" from the ISIL militants, "including options for increased security assistance."

Earlier in the day, outgoing White House press secretary Jay Carney said: "The president hasn't ruled out anything except sending U.S. combat troops into Iraq."