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American involvement in the Libyan crisis appeared to be deepening on Friday following the announcement that US Predator drones would be deployed and praise from an influential senator for the "heroes" of the rebel opposition.

John McCain, the most senior Republican on the Senate armed services committee and a strong advocate of intervention in the Libyan civil war, visited the rebel opposition leadership in its eastern stronghold of Benghazi for an "on the ground assessment" of the situation.

"These are my heroes," he said, referring to the rebels. McCain has pushed for the US to arm the opposition as part of a drive to force Muammar Gaddafi from power, and has criticised America's decision to take a back seat in the international military action against Libyan government forces.

However, the announcement on Thursday night of the US deployment of armed Predator drones over Libya indicates a renewed effort to relieve the siege of Misrata and force a breakthrough in the deadlocked conflict in the east.

Predator drones – controversial because of their use against targets in Pakistan and Afghanistan in which civilians have been killed – were expected to be deployed over Misrata immediately. However, the first mission, armed with Hellfire missiles, was forced to turn back because of bad weather.

The Libyan government said their use would result in the deaths of "more civilians" and was "illegitimate". The authorities claim many civilians have been killed by Nato airstrikes, although they have failed to provide evidence to foreign media based in the west of the country.

The deployment of Predators follows the despatch of military advisers from Britain, France and Italy, plus the allocation of an expected $25m (£15.15m) worth of "non-lethal" equipment from the US to the rebel opposition.

The leaders of the international alliance against Libya claims such steps are within the remit of the UN security council resolution allowing action to protect civilians, but some countries have warned against mission creep.

Rebel leaders have appealed for intensified action from Nato and some have demanded ground troops. The Libyan government said the presence of foreign troops in the country would be viewed as an act of war and that it would arm its civilians to resist.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said Nato action had reduced Gaddafi's military capability by about a third.

"We've attrited somewhere between 30 and 40% of his main ground forces, his ground force capabilities. Those will continue to go away over time," he told US troops in Baghdad.

He said the conflict was "moving towards a stalemate". Many military analysts have concluded that a stalemate was reached some time ago.

Libyan state TV claimed nine people were killed in an overnight air strike in the western city of Sirte, although that could not be verified.

Meanwhile, a border post between Libya and Tunisia was reported to be in rebel hands despite claims by the Libyan government that its forces had retaken the crossing.

Rebel forces displayed weapons seized from fleeing government troops, according to Reuters, and the rebel tricolour flag was flying above the border post near the Tunisian town of Dehiba, witnesses said.
Libya crisis: US involvement deepens with deployment of Predator drones | World news | guardian.co.uk