Libya – An investigative report by the Italian defence-tracking site Itamil Radar says the United States carried out a wide-ranging intelligence mission off the country’s western coast, deploying two specialised surveillance aircraft in a coordinated operation.
US aircraft run simultaneous patrols along the western shoreline
The report—monitored and translated by Al-Marsad—states that two American platforms flew at the same time from the city of Zawiya in the west to Misrata in the east, underscoring Washington’s heightened focus on regional security dynamics.
SIGINT jet gathers electronic data north of Tripoli
A U.S. Army Bombardier 650 Artemis completed an extensive sortie over international waters north of the capital, using advanced signals- and electronic-intelligence systems to collect data believed to cover military activity and communications inside Libya.
Triton drone conducts parallel high-altitude maritime sweep
Concurrently, a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft loitered for several hours over the same sector. Purpose-built for long-endurance maritime surveillance, the Triton provides real-time reconnaissance at high altitude.
Mission seen as effort to track militias and smuggling routes
The twin presence points to a coordinated intelligence operation likely aimed at monitoring armed-group movements, smuggling networks or foreign military footprints across western Libya.
Ongoing US interest in the central Mediterranean
The authors conclude that the dual mission highlights Washington’s sustained commitment to watching the central Mediterranean—especially the Libyan littoral, which remains a flashpoint for instability and external intervention.
