Joe Biden halts drone strikes outside of war zones where US troops deployed SECTIONS Last Updated: Mar 09, 2021, 05:35 PM IST Share Synopsis Any drone strikes planned against jihadist groups outside of Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq will have to be approved by the White House, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday. New York Times Jake Sullivan, the Biden administration's national security adviser, speaks at the White House in Washington, Feb. 4, 2021 Related President Joe Biden has suspended drone strikes outside of war zones where US forces are operating, reversing the policy of his predecessor Donald Trump, who had given the military free rein in countries such as Somalia.