America is seeking clearance to launch drone strikes against Islamic militants operating in Kenya, according to Pentagon sources, as part of efforts to counter jihadists’ growing reach into Africa.
While US forces have used drones against targets in Somalia for several years, launched from a base in Djibouti, the plan to extend operations to Kenya reflects the growing threat from Islamic extremists.
The plan would involve both responding to attacks by militants and launching pre-emptive strikes against targets identified by US intelligence.
It was drawn up in response to the killing of three Americans, two civilian contractors and a US army soldier earlier this year in an attack on a small American airbase within the supposedly secure perimeter of a Kenyan naval base
