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The United States military has conducted nearly a dozen secret operations against al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Syria, Pakistan and other countries since 2004, the New York Times reported.
Citing anonymous US officials, the Times story said the operations were authorised by a broad classified order that then-Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed and President George W. Bush approved in early 2004.
The order gave the military authority to attack al Qaeda anywhere in the world and to conduct operations in countries that were not at war with the US.
The raids have typically been conducted by US Special Forces, often with the Central Intelligence Agency, the newspaper said.
Specific missions have to be approved by the Defence Secretary or by the President.
