The Associated Press says the United States is considering military strikes against Libya and Mali to retaliate for the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

Quoting former and incumbent officials in the U.S. administration, AP reported on Tuesday that U.S. special operations strike forces are on standby, and drones are already flying above North Africa, ready to strike militant targets.

However, the AP says the officials are weighing whether the short-term payoff of the strikes is worth potentially elevating Al-Quida’s status in the region, in addition to doing little to slow the growing terror threat in North Africa.

Ahead of the presidential election, Republicans and Democrats are arguing over the government’s responses to the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.