Washington: Senior US national security officials told Congress a new war authorisation is “not legally required” to conduct combat operations against terrorist groups and warned lawmakers that prematurely repealing current law could signal the US is “backing away from this fight.”

Secretary of state Rex Tillerson and defence secretary Jim Mattis testified before the Senate foreign relations committee three months after they informed the panel a post- September 11, 2001 law gave the military ample authority to fight terrorist groups and a new one was unnecessary.  A separate authorisation for the war in Iraq approved by Congress in 2002 also remains in force.

They said if Congress does pursue a new authorisation for foes such as the Islamic State, it’s imperative that the existing law not be rescinded until the new one is fully in place. Mr Tillerson and Mr Mattis also said that any new war authorisation, like the existing one, should not have any geographic or time restrictions placed on the use of force. “Though a statement of continued congressional support would be welcome, a new (war authorisation) is not legally required to address the continuing threat posed by al-Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS,” Mr Mattis said.