Obama approves fresh guidelines for U.S. military in Afghanistan

U.S. Marines march with flags during a handover ceremony, as the last U.S. Marines unit and British combat troops end their Afghan operations, in Helmand October 26, 2014. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani/Files

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has approved plans giving U.S. military commanders broader authority in helping Afghanistan forces repel Taliban fighters after U.S. and NATO combat operations formally end in December, a senior administration official said.

The decision, made in recent weeks, will allow U.S. forces to carry out limited missions against the Taliban seen as necessary to protect Americans and support Afghanistan's security forces.