WASHINGTON: The US CIA is set to launch drone strikes against suspected Libya-based jihadists with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group from a base in northeastern Niger, the New York Times reported. The move gives an expanded role to the CIA in drone strikes, a change carried out under President Donald Trump. His predecessor, Barack Obama, had sought to put drone operations under military control, which is less secretive and more accountable than the CIA, the Times said. The Pentagon operates a base in Niger’s capital Niamey, some 800 miles southwest of Dirkou, from which it has launched lethal strikes against Libya-based jihadists, the Times reported. Libya, which shares a border with Niger, has been thrown into chaos since the ouster of strongman Moamer Kadhafi in October 2011.

Source: Libya Today September 10, 2018 11:03 UTC