Obama budget allocates $8.8 bln to fight Islamic State, help Iraq

U.S. Senate staff members hand out printed copies of President Barack Obama's proposed 2016 budget on Capitol Hill in Washington February 2, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's fiscal 2016 budget requests $8.8 billion to fund U.S. efforts to fight Islamic State militants, bolster Iraq's army and strengthen the "moderate" opposition in Syria, documents released on Monday showed. About $5.3 billion is allocated for the Department of Defense, including money for air strikes, and $3.5 billion to the Department of State. The funds are part of the Obama administration's $58 billion request for Overseas Contingency Operations. (Reporting by David Lawder and Jeff Mason; Editing by Susan Heavey)