Obama Says ‘Further Action’ Possible in South Sudan

HONOLULU â€" After an attack on three United States aircraft attempting to evacuate American citizens from South Sudan, President Obama sent a letter Sunday to top congressional leaders in which he said he might take “further action” to support United States citizens and interests in the contested region.

In a letter to Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio and Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and the Senate’s president pro tempore, Mr. Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, wrote, “As I monitor the situation in South Sudan, I may take further action to support the security of U.S. citizens, personnel, and property, including our embassy, in South Sudan.”

Mr. Obama’s letter is consistent with the War Powers Resolution of 1937, which requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action, and does not necessarily mean that the administration plans further increases in its military operations in the region.

On Saturday, Mr. Obama sent Special Operations forces to Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, where roughly 14,000 refugees had gathered in a United Nations compound surrounded by armed rebel forces. The mission was aborted after all three aircraft took small-arms fire and were damaged. Four service members were injured, one seriously.

Though the United States had been evacuating American citizens from the country, Saturday’s mission was the first time military forces ventured into rebel-controlled territory. All four service members were reported in stable condition.

A White House official said the president was updated on the situation Sunday, after a meeting that Susan E. Rice, his national security adviser, held with senior members of the administration’s national security team. Mr. Obama had also been briefed by Ms. Rice in a conference call on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, the United States continued to evacuate United States citizens from Bor on United Nations and United States civilian helicopters. The State Department, in a statement, said that they have so far evacuated approximately 380 United States officials and private citizens, as well as roughly 300 citizens of other countries, to Nairobi, Kenya, and other locations outside the country.

“The U.S. government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of United States citizens in South Sudan,” said Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, in an email statement. “We are working with our allies around the world to connect with and evacuate U.S. citizens as quickly and safely as possible. For their safety and security, we will not outline specific evacuation plans.”