The Trump administration is planning to reduce certain Obama-era restrictions on drone strikes and commando raids, which would increase strikes to include “foot soldier jihadists” who may not have leadership roles.
Strikes currently are only permitted if militants are deemed a “continuing and imminent threat” to U.S. citizens, according to the New York Times.
The reduction of restrictions would apply to commando raids and drone strikes outside of conventional battlefields. The policy would impact missions in areas where the U.S. fights Islamic militants outside of major combat zones, like in Yemen, Libya, and Somalia, as well as other places in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
This proposal amplifies the fight against terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and al Qaeda, operations allowed under the congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.
This new policy would also align with the Trump administration’s mission to defeat terrorists and terrorist groups.
“The United States and our allies are working together throughout the Middle East to crush the loser terrorists and stop the re-emergence of safe havens they use to launch attacks on all of our people,” he said Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly.
