US seeks funding to battle Islamic extremist groups in Libya, Africa | World News - Hindustan Times
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US seeks funding to battle Islamic extremist groups in Libya, Africa

AP | By, Washington
Feb 10, 2016 08:45 AM IST

The US defence department is seeking $200 million in the 2017 budget for counterterrorism operations in Libya and other portions of North and West Africa, as the Islamic State threat in that region continues to grow.

The US defence department is seeking $200 million in the 2017 budget for counterterrorism operations in Libya and other portions of North and West Africa, as the Islamic State threat in that region continues to grow.

This file photo taken on March 16, 2015 shows forces preparing to launch attacks as they continue to fight Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte.(AFP)
This file photo taken on March 16, 2015 shows forces preparing to launch attacks as they continue to fight Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte.(AFP)

The new funding provides the first concrete indication of what the US military may do to battle the threat, including expanded drone and surveillance flights, strikes and other operations. And it is the first time that the Pentagon has included a separate increase for operations against the Islamic State in Africa.

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There were no details on how the money would be spent. The $200 million is an overall increase the department’s war funding, including the ongoing effort in Afghanistan, and the airstrikes and training in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State. The war funding request is $58.8 billion for 2017, compared to $58.6 billion this year.

The $200 million is likely to cover increased drone operations over Africa, as the military struggles to provide real-time intelligence through 24-hour unmanned aircraft patrols in the coming years. And that budget increase will build on discussions U.S. officials are having now on plans to beef up counterterrorism operations in Libya in the coming weeks and months.

According to US defence officials, the Pentagon is looking for ways to increase drone flights over Libya and other parts of Africa to get a better picture of what is going on and to be prepared to conduct operations when needed.

As a result, officials said the US may have to shift aircraft from other parts of the world, including Afghanistan, to cover the growing demand in Libya, where the number of Islamic State militants has risen from a couple thousand to about 5,000, according to newly declassified US intelligence assessments.

Under the plan laid out in the 2017 budget, the Pentagon would increase the number of 24-hour combat air patrols from more than 60 now to 90 by about October 2019. The increase would come as the Army, government contractors and special operations forces contribute more to the flights already being done by the Air Force.

Although there are no plans for a large-scale US military action in Libya, President Barack Obama last week directed his national security team to beef up counterterrorism operations there.

According to US officials, the military options under consideration include raids and advisory missions by US special operations forces and targeted airstrikes against militants, including high profile enemies. Last November a US airstrike on a command center near the port city of Darnah killed Abu Nabil, a longtime al-Qaida operative believed by US officials to have been the senior Islamic State leader in Libya.

US officials are increasingly worried that Libya could become the next Syria, where the Islamic State flourished amid civil war and spread into Iraq. Both Syria and Libya have vast under-governed areas where militants can set up headquarters, training camps or storage depots.

Small teams of US military members have gone in and out of Libya in recent months as part of an effort to establish ties with local groups and leaders.

The expected increase in military activity in Libya comes as officials pursue diplomatic efforts to form a national unity government there.

Since 2014, Libya has been split between two rival authorities, each backed by different militias and tribes.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

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