France turns to armed drones in fight against Sahel militantsTOULON, France (Reuters) - France has decided to arm its surveillance drones in West Africa as part of counter-terrorism operations against Islamist militants, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron has made fighting Islamist militants his primary foreign policy objective and the move to armed drones fits into a more aggressive policy at a time when it looks increasingly unlikely Paris will be able to withdraw from the region in the medium to long-term.  France currently has five unarmed Reaper reconnaissance drones positioned in Niger s capital Niamey to support its 4,000-strong Barkhane counter-terrorism operation in Africa, and one in France.   Beyond our borders, the enemy is more furtive, more mobile, disappears into the vast Sahel desert and dissimulates himself amidst the civilian population,  Parly said in a speech to the military.   Facing this, we cannot remain static. Our methods and equipment must adapt. It is with this in mind that I have decided to launch the process to arm our intelligence and surveillance drones.      A further six of 12 Reaper drones, built by U.S. firm General Atomics and ordered after France s 2013 intervention in Mali to eventually replace its EADS-made Harfang drones, are due to be delivered by 2019. The defense ministry said on Tuesday the new drones would be delivered with Hellfire missiles while the existing six would be armed by 2020, possibly with European munitions.   Previous French administrations have shied away from purchasing armed drones, fearing a possible increase in civilian casualties. Al Qaeda s north African wing AQIM and related Islamist groups were largely confined to the Sahara desert until they hijacked a rebellion by ethnic Tuareg separatists in Mali in 2012, and then swept south. French forces intervened the following year to prevent them taking Mali s capital, Bamako, but they have since gradually expanded their reach across the region, launching high-profile attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, as well as much more frequent, smaller attacks on military targets. At the end of July, at the military base in Niger, officers and pilots had told Reuters it was imperative to arm the drones to be more efficient and quick in tackling jihadist groups.  In the future, armed drones will enable us to accompany surveillance ... with the capacity to strike at the opportune moment.  We will be able to gain in efficiency and limit the risk of collateral damage,  Parly said.  France is also working with Germany, Italy and Spain to  develop a European drone, which is expected to be ready by 2025. worldnews
france turns armed drones fight she militantstoulon france reuters france decided arm surveillance drones west africa part operations islamic militants defense minister florence party said tuesday french president emmanuel macron made fighting islamic militants primary foreign policy objective move armed drones fits aggressive policy time looks increasingly unlikely paris able withdraw region medium france currently five unarmed reader reconnaissance drones positioned niger capital name support backhand operation africa one france beyond borders enemy survive mobile disappears vast she desert dissimulates amidst civilian population party said speech military facing remain static our methods equipment must adapt it mind i decided launch process arm intelligence surveillance drones a six reader drones built firm general atomic ordered france intervention mali eventually replace harming drones due delivered the defense ministry said tuesday new drones would delivered hellfire missiles existing six would armed possibly european munitions previous french administrations shield away purchasing armed drones fearing possible increase civilian casualties al qaeda north african wing aim related islamic groups largely confined share desert hijacked rebellion ethnic turret separatists mali swept south french forces intervened following year prevent taking mali capital bamboo since gradually expanded reach across region launching attacks mali burkina faso ivory coast well much frequent smaller attacks military targets at end july military base niger officers pilots told reuters imperative arm drones efficient quick tackling jihadist groups in future armed drones enable us accompany surveillance capacity strike opportune moment we able gain efficiency limit risk collateral damage party said france also working germany italy spain develop european drone expected ready worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: France turns to armed drones in fight against Sahel militantsTOULON, France (Reuters) - France has decided to arm its surveillance drones in West Africa as part of counter-terrorism operations against Islamist militants, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron has made fighting Islamist militants his primary foreign policy objective and the move to armed drones fits into a more aggressive policy at a time when it looks increasingly unlikely Paris will be able to withdraw from the region in the medium to long-term.  France currently has five unarmed Reaper reconnaissance drones positioned in Niger s capital Niamey to support its 4,000-strong Barkhane counter-terrorism operation in Africa, and one in France.   Beyond our borders, the enemy is more furtive, more mobile, disappears into the vast Sahel desert and dissimulates himself amidst the civilian population,  Parly said in a speech to the military.   Facing this, we cannot remain static. Our methods and equipment must adapt. It is with this in mind that I have decided to launch the process to arm our intelligence and surveillance drones.      A further six of 12 Reaper drones, built by U.S. firm General Atomics and ordered after France s 2013 intervention in Mali to eventually replace its EADS-made Harfang drones, are due to be delivered by 2019. The defense ministry said on Tuesday the new drones would be delivered with Hellfire missiles while the existing six would be armed by 2020, possibly with European munitions.   Previous French administrations have shied away from purchasing armed drones, fearing a possible increase in civilian casualties. Al Qaeda s north African wing AQIM and related Islamist groups were largely confined to the Sahara desert until they hijacked a rebellion by ethnic Tuareg separatists in Mali in 2012, and then swept south. French forces intervened the following year to prevent them taking Mali s capital, Bamako, but they have since gradually expanded their reach across the region, launching high-profile attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, as well as much more frequent, smaller attacks on military targets. At the end of July, at the military base in Niger, officers and pilots had told Reuters it was imperative to arm the drones to be more efficient and quick in tackling jihadist groups.  In the future, armed drones will enable us to accompany surveillance ... with the capacity to strike at the opportune moment.  We will be able to gain in efficiency and limit the risk of collateral damage,  Parly said.  France is also working with Germany, Italy and Spain to  develop a European drone, which is expected to be ready by 2025. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: france turns armed drones fight she militantstoulon france reuters france decided arm surveillance drones west africa part operations islamic militants defense minister florence party said tuesday french president emmanuel macron made fighting islamic militants primary foreign policy objective move armed drones fits aggressive policy time looks increasingly unlikely paris able withdraw region medium france currently five unarmed reader reconnaissance drones positioned niger capital name support backhand operation africa one france beyond borders enemy survive mobile disappears vast she desert dissimulates amidst civilian population party said speech military facing remain static our methods equipment must adapt it mind i decided launch process arm intelligence surveillance drones a six reader drones built firm general atomic ordered france intervention mali eventually replace harming drones due delivered the defense ministry said tuesday new drones would delivered hellfire missiles existing six would armed possibly european munitions previous french administrations shield away purchasing armed drones fearing possible increase civilian casualties al qaeda north african wing aim related islamic groups largely confined share desert hijacked rebellion ethnic turret separatists mali swept south french forces intervened following year prevent taking mali capital bamboo since gradually expanded reach across region launching attacks mali burkina faso ivory coast well much frequent smaller attacks military targets at end july military base niger officers pilots told reuters imperative arm drones efficient quick tackling jihadist groups in future armed drones enable us accompany surveillance capacity strike opportune moment we able gain efficiency limit risk collateral damage party said france also working germany italy spain develop european drone expected ready worldnews