Wall Street Journal: U.S. Wants Drones in North Africa to Combat Islamic State in Libya
Washington seeking permission to use a base in a neighboring country
WASHINGTON—The U.S. is in talks with North African countries about positioning drones at a base on their soil to ramp up surveillance of Islamic State in Libya in what would be the most significant expansion of the campaign against the extremist group in the region.
The establishment of such a base would help eliminate what counterterrorism officials described as one of the last and most pressing intelligence “blind spots” facing U.S. and Western spy agencies. Washington and its allies are seeking to contain the expansion of Islamic State beyond Iraq and Syria, where a U.S.-led military campaign against the group is already under way.
“Right now, what we are trying to do is address some real intelligence challenges,” a senior administration official said. A base in North Africa close to Islamic State strongholds in Libya would help the U.S. “fill gaps in our understanding of what’s going on” there, the official added.
The quest for a base represents an acknowledgment that the extremist group has managed to enlarge its area of influence even while under U.S. and allied bombardment in Iraq and Syria.
More News On Reports That The U.S. Wants To Deploy Drones To North Africa To Monitor The Islamic State
U.S. considering drones in North Africa to monitor Islamic State: WSJ -- Reuters
Report: US seeks base for drones in northern Africa -- Stars and Stripes
US seeks drones base in North Africa to combat IS in Libya -- Times of Israel/AFP
Washington Looking for Drones Base in North Africa -- North African Post
US Plans to Position Drones in North Africa to Combat ISIL in Libya -- Sputnik