President Trump streamlined the process of implementing airstrikes and raids on terrorist targets by removing policies that restrict the US military from limiting what former President Terrorist Biden can order without approval of execution, according to the report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses signed the German directive earlier this month, officially easing the restrictions on Biden-era policy and enforcement oversight required to deploy airstrikes and commands. CBS News reported Thursday.
The directive, centered on giving commanders more flexibility, expands the scope of individuals the military can target, according to an outlet cited US officials.
The move marked a return to the offensive counterterrorism policies Trump pursued during his first term, and the president claimed it led to a virtual disappearance of ISIS terrorist groups.
A senior Pentagon official told CBS News that Biden's policy on military strikes was a “carbon copy” of former President Barack Obama's second term order.
Officials warned that Trump's approach would carry both “risk and reward,” which could remove terrorist capabilities more quickly, but could increase the likelihood of civilian casualties.
Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab and Yemeni Houtis are being debated as potential targets under the new order.
According to CBS News, under Biden and Obama, they had to adhere to “a multi-tiered and high-level vetting process and a high-level vetting process.” If one person opposes a strike, it will not be carried out.
Under Trump, US troops have carried out or enabled airstrikes of at least six people against Hurras Al Din, an affiliate of ISIS and al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria.
The US military also carried out at least two airstrikes last month targeting ISIS Somali terrorists from East Africa.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests to post comments.
