The Pentagon has approved a broader range of secret military operations against militant groups in the Middle East and Africa, The New York Times reported Monday.
The newspaper said Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command, signed a directive in September authorizing Special Operations troops to conduct surveillance missions in such countries as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia.
The document says the goals are to "penetrate, disrupt, defeat or destroy" militant groups, including al-Qaida, and "prepare the environment" for future attacks. The Times said the document does not authorize offensive action.
Report: Pentagon OKs spy missions in Mideast
A Washington DC grand jury declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers who were denounced by...
The US military on Thursday said it killed two alleged drug traffickers in a strike on...
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said the Pentagon is ending all military training, fellowships...
