Biden Revises US Drone Strike Policy, Requires His Approval For New Targets - Reports
Umer Jamshaid Published October 08, 2022 | 01:30 AM
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2022) President Joe Biden is revising the US drone strike policy to require his personal permission before adding targets to a kill list, the New York Times reported on Friday.
The policy revision, part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to tighten rules around drone strikes outside conventional warzones, requires the military to seek Biden's personal approval before adding a suspected terrorist to a target list for "direct action," the report said.
The policy is a shift away from that of former President Donald Trump, who decentralized decision-making by giving commanders in the field greater leeway to act, the report said.
The new approach was reportedly announced in a classified presidential policy memorandum, which lays out the shift away from drone strikes and commando raids outside recognized war zones, the report said.
White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall confirmed in a statement that the policy change was completed, the report said.
The president's guidance on the use of lethal action and capture operations outside areas of active hostilities requires that US counterterrorism operations meet the highest standards of precision and rigor, including for identifying appropriate targets and minimizing civilian casualties, the report quoted Sherwood-Randall as saying.
The policy shift applies to drone strikes in areas such as those governed by Islamist militants but not considered areas of active hostilities, the report said.
The Defense Department will now also have to obtain permission from the State Department's chief of mission in a country before conducting a drone strike there, limiting targeting to named individuals who are believed with "near certainty" to be terrorists, the report added.
However, the policy does not require presidential approval for strikes conducted in self-defense, according to the report.
The change in policy comes after a botched drone strike in Afghanistan in August 2021, where the United States killed ten civilians, including seven children, after mistakenly targeting an aid worker. The strike was conducted two days after an explosion killed 13 US service members working on withdrawal operations.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid
10 minutes ago -
Copper price tops $10,000 for first time in two years
30 minutes ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister held for alleged corruption
40 minutes ago -
China calls Germany spy claims 'pure fabrication'
50 minutes ago -
Singapore expects 1-3 pct growth this year
60 minutes ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Tech Index rises over 5 pct
60 minutes ago
-
New Zealand business sector R&D expenditure hits 2.21 bln USD
60 minutes ago -
3 dead after mini car falls into west Japan paddy field
1 hour ago -
Chinese shares higher at midday Friday
1 hour ago -
Myanmar plans to export 2,000 tons of coffee in 2024-25 fiscal year
1 hour ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
1 hour ago -
Pro-Palestinian US campus protests grow as police crack down
2 hours ago