The New York Times published on 27 November 2016 an article titled "Obama Expands War with Al-Qaeda to Include Shabab in Somalia" by Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt, and Mark Mazzetti.
The US has decided to deem al-Shabaab to be part of the armed conflict that Congress authorized against the perpetrators of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. The move is intended to shore up the legal basis for an intensifying campaign of airstrikes and other counterterrorism operations, carried out largely in support of African Union and Somali government forces. This decision is not expected to change significantly US military operations in Somalia.