US President Barack Obama is seeking $200 million in the 2017 budget to fight against a growing terrorism threat by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Africa, particularly in Libya and West Africa, Associated Press reported.

The Middle East-based ISIS militant group has expanded its influence in Africa by courting extremist from Nigeria to Somalia in its global expansion that has seen it establish a major hub in Europe and North Africa.

Reuters quoted an unnamed U.S. defense official saying “the marginal increase is on the order of about $200 million associated with North Africa”. Another official said the funds will also be directed to West Africa.

The US Pentagon, which has for several years been using secret drone attacks in Africa to fight Islamic Terrorism groups such as Al Shabaab in Somalia, is now seeking to expand its war against these extremists in Africa.

This is the first time ever the Pentagon has included a separate increase in funding for operations against such groups in Africa and is part of a larger $7.5 billion military request for fiscal year 2017 to counter Islamic State.

US defense officials told Associated Press, the Pentagon was looking for ways to increase drone flights over Libya and other parts of Africa to get a better picture of what is going on and to be prepared to conduct operations when needed.

Worried about a growing threat from the Islamic State in Libya, the United States and its allies are increasing reconnaissance flights and intelligence collecting there and preparing for possible airstrikes and commando raids

Last month, the New York Times quoted General Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying that US was “looking to take decisive military action against ISIS in conjunction with the political process” in Libya.

“The president has made clear that we have the authority to use military force,” General Dunford said.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter detailed his intention to ramp up spending to counter Islamic State as he unveiled the broad details of Obama’s proposed $582.7 billion defense budget.

The US has a limited permanent military presence in Africa, largely centered on a U.S. base in Djibouti.

According to the New York Times, Obama is seeking to expand these bases and add more basic installations in countries that could include Niger and Cameroon, where the US already carries unmanned drones surveillance missions.