President Barack Obama, after urging Congress to take a “prompt” vote authorizing military action against Syria, won endorsement for the cause from House Speaker John Boehner.

Backing from Republican Boehner brings Obama closer to overcoming objections being raised by some House members who’ve questioned the evidence presented by the administration that the Syrian government was behind a sarin gas attack last month or whether the U.S. has a vital interest in the region.

President Obama said Tuesday he believes Congress will vote to authorize military action against Syria over the use of chemical weapons, and he won the support of the top two Republicans in the U.S. House.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said after a White House meeting that he supports the president's "call for action" against Syria, and he believes most other congressional Republicans will do so as well.

Speaker John A. Boehner said on Tuesday that he would “support the president’s call to action” in Syria after meeting with President Obama, giving the president a crucial ally in the quest for votes in the House.

Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the No. 2 House Republican, quickly joined Mr. Boehner to say he also backed Mr. Obama.