The White House authorized the Pentagon Wednesday to conduct offensive operations against “Khorasan Province,” a Daesh-associated group located in Afghanistan/Pakistan region.
With the designation of terrorist, ISIL-K cannot officially receive support, including money transfers and weapon supplies, from any source, and its members can be targeted at any time by US military forces.
Speaking on the authorization to use military force, US Defense ministry spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the regional offensive stance had been adjusted recently but did not provide further information.
"As part of this mission, we will take action against any terrorist group that poses a threat to U.S. interests or the homeland, including members of ISIL-Khorasan," Davis stated, noting that American forces have already conducted “some” strikes on extremist group positions.
Notorious US hawk John McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona, praised the move, suggesting that, as of the beginning of the second year of the US anti-Daesh military campaign in the Middle East, the Obama administration "seems to be waking up” to an emerging terrorist threat.
The group was recognized by the infamous Daesh leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as an offshoot January 2015. Since that time it has carried out several terrorist attacks in the region, killing civilians in two nations as well as troops of Afghani government forces.
Prior the US designation of ISIL-K as terrorist, American servicemen could use weapons against the group only in self-defense.
