US loses unmanned drone over Libya

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Washington, Nov 23 (UNI) The US forces lost an unarmed drone on a mission flying over the city of Tripoli in Libya, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced in a statement.

“An unarmed US Africa Command remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was lost over Tripoli, Libya on Thursday,” the statement said on Friday.

No reason was given for the loss, and the AFRICOM said it was under investigation.

RPA operations are carried out over Libya to assess the ongoing security situation and monitor violent extremist activity, the statement said.

Earlier on Thursday, the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, said it downed an Italian unmanned drone in the west of the country.

Meanwhile, an LNA spokesman said they are waiting on an explanation from the Italian government as to why the drone was in Libyan airspace.

In September, the US Africa Command had conducted several air strikes against the Libyan IS force, and claimed it had killed dozens.