The Trump administration has loosened restrictions on U.S. military commanders, granting them greater autonomy to conduct airstrikes and special operations raids outside conventional battlefields, according to a source cited by CBS News.
The policy shift, reportedly signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent meeting with U.S. Africa Command, reverses previous constraints that required multiple layers of approval for targeting decisions.
The revised directive expands the range of individuals who can be targeted and reduces the executive branch’s role in approving military operations.
Supporters argue that this change will allow U.S. forces to respond more swiftly to threats, particularly from groups like Al-Shabaab in Somalia and the Houthis in Yemen. However, critics warn that the streamlined process increases the risk of intelligence failures and civilian casualties, a concern that shaped the more cautious approach adopted under the Biden administration.
The policy shift comes days after Houthi forces in Yemen fired surface-to-air missiles at a U.S. F-16 fighter jet and an MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Red Sea.
U.S. defense officials said this is the first known instance of the Houthis targeting an American fighter jet with a SAM missile, suggesting potential improvements in their air defense systems.
The recent Houthi attack comes weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization,” reinstating a label he had imposed during his previous term, which was reversed by former President Joe Biden in 2021.
