纽约时报报导说，美国军方批准扩大在中东和非洲之角地区的秘密军事行动, 破坏该地区的恐怖组织。
纽约时报星期二说，美军指挥官彼得雷乌斯将军去年九月签署了一项秘密命令，授权美国特种部队被派遣到该地区的友好和敌对国家，其中包括伊朗、沙特阿拉伯、也门和索马里。
报导说，这项命令还允许进行侦察行动，一旦因伊朗核项目的紧张局势升级，能协助在伊朗的军事打击。
美国国防部官员告诉纽约时报，新命令将允许比前任政府时期更多有系统的、长期的秘密行动。
官员们对纽约时报说，该计划的目标是建立一些网络，能够渗透、破坏、击败和摧毁基地组织和其他激进组织。
The New York Times newspaper is reporting the U.S. military has authorized an expansion of covert operations in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa to disrupt terrorist groups in the region.
The Times reports Tuesday that General David Petraeus signed an secret directive last September authorizing U.S. Special Operations troops to be sent to both friendly and hostile nations in the region, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia.
The report says the order would also allow for reconnaissance that could assist military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear program were to escalate.
Defense Department officials told the Times that the new order would allow for more systematic and long-term covert operations than in previous administrations.
Officials told the newspaper the program’s goals would be to build networks that could “penetrate, disrupt, defeat or destroy” al Qaida and other militant groups.