NYT: US Drones are flying over Gaza to Aid Hostage recovery, officials say

[Tomconroy]

"The U.S. military is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip, according to two Defense Department officials and an analysis by The New York Times. The officials said the drones were being used to aid in hostage recovery efforts, indicating that the U.S. is more involved than previously known.

The aircraft are MQ-9 Reapers operated by U.S. Special Operations forces and were first spotted on Saturday on Flightradar24, a publicly accessible flight-tracking website, though Pentagon officials said that the aircraft have been active in the area since the days after the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas.

While Israel frequently conducts reconnaissance flights over Gaza, U.S. defense officials said it was believed to be the first time that U.S. drones have flown missions over Gaza.

The flights are operating at a critical juncture. Israel is in the early stages of a ground invasion in Gaza and says Hamas is holding more than 240 hostages, 10 of whom are believed to be Americans."

U.S. Drones Are Flying Over Gaza to Aid in Hostage Recovery, Officials Say https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-hostages-us.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7kw.A74u.s-FC6co2DgWO&smid=nytcore-android-share


Flight trackers are indicating the drones fly from the Mediterranean (presumably from a carrier) and circle south Gaza for three hours before departing. A half dozen are involved.

[Wingus Dingus]

1. I kinda feel like we shouldn't know this, but what do I know.

[Tomconroy]

2. Cui bonum?

Link to tweet

Evergreen Intel is the Amelia Smith referred to in the story.

[Maru Kitteh]

4. I'm hoping we know because we are meant to know along with everyone else. nt

[drray23]

3. This also mean we know the extend of the destruction

and civilian casualties as well as all sort of other intelligence.

President Biden did not and does not have to rely on information from the Hamas health ministry or any other. That talking point about "well we cant really trust reports coming from Gaza" goes out the window.

Calls for a cease fire, even if temporary coming from the US are based on our own assessment.