{"id":37319,"date":"2017-10-03T19:40:32","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T19:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/03\/mattis-reveals-new-rules-of-engagement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:30:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:30:45","slug":"mattis-reveals-new-rules-of-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2017\/10\/03\/mattis-reveals-new-rules-of-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattis reveals new rules of engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. forces are no longer bound by requirements to be in contact with enemy forces in Afghanistan before opening fire, thanks to a change in rules of engagement orchestrated by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis, appearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford, told a pair of congressional hearings that the White House gave him a free hand to reconsider the rules of engagement and alter them to speed the battle against the Taliban if need be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last several years, many top officials in Washington have advocated for a loosening of the rules of engagement that dictate how troops conduct combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes could allow the U.S. military to move more quickly to defeat terrorist organizations. Rules of engagement are classified, and military officials generally do not discuss them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there were signs that changes to those rules of engagement were coming. In his Aug. 21 speech announcing his Afghanistan strategy<\/a>, President Donald Trump said he would \u201dlift restrictions and expand authorities\u201d for war fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dWe will also expand authorities for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan,\u201d Trump said at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\t