US sends CIA operatives to help Libyan rebels

The Central Intelligence Agency has infiltrated 'clandestine operatives' into Libya as part of a shadow force to bleed Muammar Gaddafi's forces and to gather intelligence for military air-strikes.

The American intelligence operatives have been in Libya for several weeks and part of their mandate is to contact and help the beleaguered rebels, according to US officials.

The CIA operatives are closely working in tandem with dozens of British Special Forces and MI6 Intelligence officials, the New York Times reported, saying these agents have been directing US and allied air-strikes and garnering intelligence on the locations and movements of Gaddafi's tank columns, artillery guns and missile installations.

American officials said that the intelligence gathered about the location of Gaddafi's arsenal and the movement of troops inside major towns might help weaken Libya's military enough to encourage defection.

The Times said that several weeks ago, US President Barack Obama had signed a secret funding authorising the CIA to provide arms and other support to Libyan rebels.

"But weapons have not yet been shipped to Libya, as the Obama administration debates the effects of giving them to the rebel groups," the paper said.

Quoting officials, the NYT said that as the goal of the Libyan campaign is not explicitly clear, the clandestine war in Libya is significantly different from the one in Afghanistan that started in 2001.

In Afghanistan, CIA and US Special Forces worked alongside Afghan militias, paving the way for rebel advances on important cities like Kabul and Kandahar.

Along with having eyes on the ground, US officials said America had also deployed U-2 spy planes and Global Hawk high-altitude drones to keep track of the movement of a large body of troops.

A former key United Stated general said that Libya's flat desert terrain and clear weather had allowed warplanes with advance sensors to track and hunt Gaddafi's armoured columns.