President Donald Trump, on Thursday, signed an executive order placing restrictions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the court's decision to investigate allegations of human rights violations against America's troops in Afghanistan.

ICC's probe

According to the international court, the office of its president received numerous communications on the situation in Afghanistan over allegations of human rights abuses including but not limited to murder, severe deprivation of physical liberty, cruel treatment, carrying out of executions without proper judicial authority, and intentional attacks against civilians.

A narrative by the ICC on its website over the planned investigation, states in part; "On 20 November 2017, the Prosecutor had requested authorisation from Pre-Trial Judges to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the armed conflict in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since 1 May 2003, as well as regarding similar crimes related to the armed conflict in Afghanistan allegedly committed in the territory of other States Parties to the Rome Statute since 1 July 2002."

Therefore, on Thursday, after signing the executive order, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said in a statement that; "The International Criminal Court's actions are an attack on the rights of the American people and threaten to infringe upon our national sovereignty," adding that; "As the President's Executive Order makes clear, the United States will continue to use any means necessary to protect our citizens and our allies from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court."

We're undeterred -ICC

In a statement issued soon after Mr Trump's decision was taken, the ICC expressed "profound regret at the announcement of further threats and coercive actions, including financial measures, against the Court and its officials, made earlier today by the Government of the United States."