Report: Obama expands combat mission in Afghanistan

[Geee]

The Hill:

President Obama decided to expand the U.S. military role in Afghanistan in a classified order, the New York Times reported late Friday.

 

Obama signed the order in recent weeks, according to the Times, giving troops a broader mandate in 2015 than previously planned.

 

The new authorization allows U.S. troops to carry out missions against the Taliban and other militant groups that threaten Afghanistan’s stability with the use of jets, bombers and drones.

The president announced the final drawdown plan in May, at the time saying the 9,800 troops remaining in Afghanistan wouldn't have a combat role, but would train Afghan forces and hunt the “remnants of Al Qaeda" to end the 13-year war.

The Times reported that a "lengthy and heated debate" led to the decision to change the mission.