US eases military strike rules, expands targeting range: Report

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump has rolled back restrictions on military commanders authorizing airstrikes and special operations outside conventional war zones, said a report Friday.

The policy change broadens the range of individuals who can be targeted in such operations, CBS News reported, citing US officials familiar with the directive.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed the directive during a meeting with senior US military leaders from Africa Command in Germany earlier this month.

These changes give commanders "greater latitude to decide whom to target," relaxing the multi-layered oversight system implemented by former President Joe Biden.

"During Biden's tenure, airstrikes typically focused on the senior leadership of terrorist organizations," a senior Defense Department official told.

The same official noted that Trump's approach offers potential advantages by potentially degrading terrorist organizations faster through a "streamlined process" and "widened target selection," but also increases risks of "flawed decisions and unintended civilian casualties."

The report did not clarify whether similar directives were issued to other US commands worldwide.

Hegseth confirmed the report in an X post, sharing the news story with the one-word comment: "Correct."