DIRKOU, Niger — The C.I.A. is poised to conduct secret drone strikes against Qaeda and Islamic State insurgents from a newly expanded air base deep in the Sahara, making aggressive use of powers that were scaled back during the Obama administration and restored by President Trump. Late in his presidency, Barack Obama sought to put the military in charge of drone attacks after a backlash arose over a series of highly visible strikes, some of which killed civilians. is broadening its drone operations, moving aircraft to northeastern Niger to hunt Islamist militants in southern Libya. had been flying drones on surveillance missions for several months from a corner of a small commercial airport in Dirkou.

Source: New York Times September 09, 2018 19:52 UTC