Washington Post: Obama administration gives Pentagon new authorities to strike Islamic State in Afghanistan
The Obama administration has granted the military new authorities to strike the Islamic State in Afghanistan, signaling a more sustained fight against the extremist group outside of its base in Iraq and Syria, officials said on Wednesday.
A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal decisions, said new rules of engagement approved last week permitted commanders in Afghanistan to launch air strikes against Islamic State militants because of their affiliation with the group, in the same way it targets fighters linked to al-Qaeda.
The new arrangement “enables the United States to more actively target ISIL in Afghanistan,” the official said, using an acronym for the group that controls much of Iraq and Syria and has established outposts from North Africa to central Asia.
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More News On The Pentagon Being Given The Green Light From The White House To Attack ISIS In Afghanistan
Obama Relaxes Rules for Striking ISIS in Afghanistan -- NYT
ISIS in Afghanistan: U.S. forces OK'd to attack emerging offshoot -- Military Times
US Special Forces in Afghanistan Poised to Assume More Active Role -- VOA
U.S. Clears Path to Target Islamic State in Afghanistan -- WSJ
U.S. military can now pursue Islamic State in Afghanistan -- Washington Times
US troops get authority to hunt Afghan Islamic State chapter -- The Australian
2 comments:
Afghanistan has virtually no air force. The US has in Afghanistan one squadron of 18 F-16s to cover a mountainous country the size of Saskatchewan. For any airstrike to be launched, the F-16 pilots still require U.S. personnel on the ground, so-called joint terminal air controller, to direct the combat aircraft. So good luck on the green light.
Yes, but Obama has made it look like he is doing something productive.
It is the optics that count.
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