An effort to revive the U.S. counterterrorism mission in Africa appears to be underway, with the Biden administration weighing a request by Somalia that could escalate American involvement in the region – a decision that would represent an about-face from former President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops and a move that military analysts say isn't necessarily in the best interest of the U.S.

A new administration in Somalia has asked the U.S. to loosen restrictions on its military drone strikes targeting Al Shabab militants as it conducts its own "all-out war" against the Islamic terrorist group that has ties to al-Qaida.