Politico: Trump authorized his military commanders in the Middle East to launch strikes without White House authorization.
Politico reported that President Donald Trump has granted US military commanders in the Middle East the authority to carry out airstrikes without prior approval from the White House.
Politico said that Trump announced on Saturday that US warplanes had carried out a new round of airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen.
Trump indicated on his Truth Social account that these strikes aim to destroy “terrorist bases, their leaders, and missile defense systems,” in addition to “protecting American ships, aircraft, and naval assets, and ensuring freedom of navigation”.
These operations come after the White House decided to ease restrictions imposed under former President Joe Biden on military air operations against militant targets.
Politico explained that military commanders in regions such as the Middle East and Africa now have the freedom to decide to launch airstrikes based on their own assessments, without having to consult the White House.
Politico quoted a US official, who requested anonymity, as saying that the escalation in airstrikes in recent weeks, including those targeting al Shabaab fighters in Somalia and ISIS leaders in Syria, was a direct result of this new policy.
The official confirmed that these strikes are likely to increase as opportunities to target militant leaders in the region continue to emerge.
