BENGHAZI – Extending its covert drone war against terrorists to a SouthAfrican country, the US military launched first ever drone attack insouthern Libya and killed two militants, who reportedly had links withAl-Qaeda.
The American army, which had earlier been targeting terrorists of Islamicmilitant since US President Donald Trump took office, on Saturday fired adrone at a house in Ubari, 435 miles south of Tripoli, to hit the militants.
A photo circulating on the media show a mutilated bodies lying under therubble of the razed house. The killed were later identified bya spokeswoman as belonging to Al-Qaeda’s branch in northwestern Africa.
The targeted region remains in the light due to the notorious sanctuariesof Al-Qaeda and other extremist outfits operate in Algeria, Niger and otherareas.
In a statement, the military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strike waslaunched with the assistance of the United Nations-backed unity governmentin Tripoli, targeting militants belong to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb(AQIM), an affiliate.
The strike was conducted as part of efforts to “disrupt and destroyterrorist organizations,” the statement said, adding that the purpose was“to deny terrorists freedom of action and degrade their ability toreconsolidate.”
According to New York Times, Ubri’s seminomadic tribesmen are heavilyinvolved in the smuggling of weapons, drugs and illegal migrants throughthe lawless deserts of southern Libya.
Some have allied with Islamist militias, including Al-Qaeda in the IslamicMaghreb, which operates across Algeria, Mali, Niger and Libya.