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US wars grounded in law, White House says

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2015, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden listens at left, as President Barack Obama speaks about the Islamic State group in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. The White House sought to show that the array of U.S. military actions on President Barack Obama’s watch have been on solid legal footing, with a new report on Dec. 5, 2016, shedding light on how an evolving interpretation of a 9/11-era law has been used to justify new and emerging threats overseas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2015, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden listens at left, as President Barack Obama speaks about the Islamic State group in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. The White House sought to show that the array of U.S. military actions on President Barack Obama’s watch have been on solid legal footing, with a new report on Dec. 5, 2016, shedding light on how an evolving interpretation of a 9/11-era law has been used to justify new and emerging threats overseas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

By Associated Press December 5, 2016 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration has determined it can target the extremist group al-Shabab in Somalia under the war powers legislation that Congress approved to target al-Qaida after the 9/11 attacks.

It’s part of a report shedding new light on the president’s evolving interpretation of the law to justify responses to new threats overseas – and to support the expanded war powers he’s handing off to his successor.

The 60-page White House report was obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its public release, expected Monday.

Obama plans to call for the report to be updated every year and released publicly.