US drones reportedly flying over Gaza to help locate hostages held by Hamas

3 November 2023, 3:18 am

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In this January 31, 2010 file photo, an unmanned US Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, on a moon-lit night. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

The US is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to help gather intelligence on the locations of hostages taken by the Gaza-ruling terror group during its deadly onslaught in southern Israel on October 7, Reuters reports, citing a pair of US officials.

One of the officials tells the news agency that the drone flights began over a week ago.

A number of US citizens are among those being held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza since being kidnapped during the massacres last month in which over 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians.

The Reuters report comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to arrive in Israel and hold talks with Israeli leaders, his second visit since the war began. Before departing, Blinken said a key focus of his trip will be securing the release of all hostages in Gaza.