<p>US forces have lost an unarmed drone aircraft over Libya, where well-armed rebels are battling for power with a UN-recognized government, the Pentagon announced on Friday.</p>.<p>"An unarmed US Africa Command remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was lost over Tripoli, Libya" on Thursday, the command said in a statement.</p>.<p>No reason was given for the loss, and the Africa Command said it was under investigation.</p>.<p>The command conducts drone operations in Libya "to assess the ongoing security situation and monitor violent extremist activity," it said.</p>.<p>"These operations are critical to counter-terror activity in Libya and are fully coordinated with appropriate government officials."</p>.<p>The US drone loss came a day after forces loyal to Libya's rebel strongman Khalifa Haftar said they shot down an Italian drone in western Libya, flying in a zone under their control.</p>.<p>US activities in the country have both monitored the conflict between the government and Haftar's forces, and the growing power of an Islamic State-allied jihadist cell in the country's southwest.</p>.<p>In September the US Africa Command conducted several airstrikes against the Libyan IS force and claimed it had killed dozens.</p>
<p>US forces have lost an unarmed drone aircraft over Libya, where well-armed rebels are battling for power with a UN-recognized government, the Pentagon announced on Friday.</p>.<p>"An unarmed US Africa Command remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was lost over Tripoli, Libya" on Thursday, the command said in a statement.</p>.<p>No reason was given for the loss, and the Africa Command said it was under investigation.</p>.<p>The command conducts drone operations in Libya "to assess the ongoing security situation and monitor violent extremist activity," it said.</p>.<p>"These operations are critical to counter-terror activity in Libya and are fully coordinated with appropriate government officials."</p>.<p>The US drone loss came a day after forces loyal to Libya's rebel strongman Khalifa Haftar said they shot down an Italian drone in western Libya, flying in a zone under their control.</p>.<p>US activities in the country have both monitored the conflict between the government and Haftar's forces, and the growing power of an Islamic State-allied jihadist cell in the country's southwest.</p>.<p>In September the US Africa Command conducted several airstrikes against the Libyan IS force and claimed it had killed dozens.</p>