U.S. considers putting drones in North Africa to increase monitoring of ISIS in Libya following spate or terrorist attacks

  • Officials said base in region would 'help understanding of what's going on' 
  • Drone flights would help give real-time information on militant activities 
  • Terrorist group has gained ground in the area during a 'security vacuum
  • Two rival governments are currently battling for control in Libya  
  • Beach gunman who killed dozens of tourists in Turkey is believed to have trained in the North African country 

The United States is holding discussions with countries in North Africa about locating drones at a base there to heighten monitoring of ISIS in Libya following a recent spate of terrorist attacks.

Such a base near Islamic State strongholds and training camps in Libya would help the United States 'fill gaps in our understanding of what's going on' in that region, a source told The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper said drone flights would give U.S. military and intelligence agencies real-time information on the militant group's activities in Libya.

The United States is considering a drone base in North Africa in a bid to monitor ISIS. The militant group has gained ground in the region because of a 'security vacuum' and have already set up training camps

The United States is considering a drone base in North Africa in a bid to monitor ISIS. The militant group has gained ground in the region because of a 'security vacuum' and have already set up training camps

Fighters allied with Islamic State commanders in Iraq and Syria have been gaining ground in Libya, where two rival governments are battling for control and militants have taken advantage of the security vacuum.

The Journal, citing senior U.S. officials, said no North African country had yet agreed to offer access to a base. 

It quoted officials as saying any such facility would likely be an existing base under the control of the host country, with the United States receiving permission to place drones there along with a limited number of military personnel.

U.S. allies Egypt and Tunisia share borders with Libya. 

But the Journal reported administration officials declined to identify countries that could host U.S. drones.

Islamic State has claimed a number of attacks in North Africa recently, including the killing of dozens of foreign tourists at a Tunisian beach resort last month. The attacker (pictured) is believed to have trained alongside other militants in Libya

Islamic State has claimed a number of attacks in North Africa recently, including the killing of dozens of foreign tourists at a Tunisian beach resort last month. The attacker (pictured) is believed to have trained alongside other militants in Libya

U.S. military officials told the paper that drones launched from the proposed base could also be used in air strikes against Islamic State targets in Libya and that the base could be a launching point for special operations missions against militants.

Islamic State has claimed a number of attacks in North Africa recently, including the killing of dozens of foreign tourists at a Tunisian beach resort last month.

The attacker is believed to have trained alongside other militants in Libya.  

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