This story is free to read.

Obama holds foreign policy meeting with lawmakers

President Barack Obama meets with Congressional leaders to discuss foreign policy, Thursday, July 31, 2014, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. From left are, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., the president, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Barack Obama meets with Congressional leaders to discuss foreign policy, Thursday, July 31, 2014, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. From left are, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., the president, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By Associated Press July 31, 2014 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is meeting with congressional leaders to discuss myriad pressing foreign policy issues.

The meeting comes amid fighting between Israel and Hamas and a new round of U.S. sanctions on Russia. Obama is also facing tests in Iraq, where an Islamic insurgency has made big gains, and in Afghanistan, where political troubles are delaying the signing of an agreement to keep U.S. troops there after this year.

Republican lawmakers have been sharply critical of Obama’s handling of some of these issues. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is among those meeting with the president and said ahead of the discussion that he believes Obama’s foreign policy will leave future presidents “to deal with a more dangerous world and with fewer tools to meet the threats.”