Biden’s new counterterrorism strategy imposes restrictions on drone use

Zeke Miller Associated Press

WASHINGTON—On Friday, President Joe Biden formally issued new guidance to reduce the use of armed drones outside war zones as part of a new counter-terrorism strategy that prioritizes protecting civilian lives. .

According to a senior government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential memo, the new policy will allow suspected terrorism to seek the attention of the U.S. government for potentially lethal actions, including drone strikes and special operations raids. Requires presidential approval before being added to the target list.

The new guidance will return U.S. policy to what it was at the end of the Obama administration, overturning former President Donald Trump’s more permissive rules that gave lower officials more leeway in launching deadly attacks.

Biden, when he took office, issued temporary restrictions on the U.S. military and intelligence agencies requiring them to seek presidential approval for lethal actions outside of war zones. New policies and strategies born of the review that began shortly after last year’s inauguration formalize the Directive. This strategy would require the next president to consider reversing the new action to reverse Biden’s directive.

“President Biden’s formal counter-terrorism guidance is an important step forward for his administration to protect Americans from evolving global terrorist challenges,” White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood Randall said in a statement. It shows that you have discernment and agility.”

The President’s guidance on the use of lethal action and capture operations outside areas of active hostilities states that “U.S. counterterrorism operations should include identifying suitable targets and minimizing civilian casualties.” , demanding that they meet the highest standards of precision and rigor,” she said.

The guidance came a day after U.S. forces killed three senior Islamic State leaders in two separate military operations in Syria on Thursday. is considered a conflict area, where is not necessarily required.

The attack in Afghanistan, in which the US killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman Zawari in August at the direction of Biden, requires presidential approval.

The policy change was first reported by The New York Times.