US Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, new commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US forces in Afghanistan, issues a “Tactical Directive” that calls for greater restraint in employing air strikes against and engaging in firefights with Taliban insurgents as a means to limit civilian casualties.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
