News release: “As part of executive branch efforts to keep the U.S. Congress and the American people informed about the activities of the U.S. military, and consistent with the War Powers Resolution, President Barack Obama submitted a report to Congress today about deployments of the U.S. armed forces, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. “This report, Presidential Letter — 2012 War Powers Resolution 6-Month Report, contains information about U.S. military deployments to Afghanistan, Central Africa, and Kosovo,” Little said in a statement issued today. The report also makes clear that the U.S. military is engaged in a robust range of operations to target al-Qaida and associated forces, including those in Somalia and Yemen. In Somalia, the U.S. military has taken direct action against members of al-Qaida, and al-Qaida associated elements of al-Shabaab, Little said. In Yemen, he said the U.S. military has engaged with the Yemeni government in joint efforts to dismantle and defeat Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, an active and dangerous al-Qaida affiliate. “In all cases we are focused on those al-Qaida members and affiliates who pose a direct threat to the United States and to our national interests,” Little said, adding that the report contains information about these operations and their growing significance in the overall U.S. counterterrorism effort. “Going forward, the American people should know that we will do what is necessary to defend our country against those who would threaten us,” Little said.