The United States has reportedly been operating a secret drone base in Saudi Arabia for the last two years.

The Washington Post reports that the base in Saudi Arabia was established two years ago to extend the search for members of Al Qaeda.

The newspaper says the base was used to launch a drone strike that killed US-born Al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki in 2011.

US officials linked him to the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day in 2009.

US drone policy is likely to be raised tomorrow when White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan faces a senate confirmation panel.

He is president Barack Obama's pick to become director of the CIA.

White House officials had asked the newspaper to refrain from revealing the strategic base in the powerful oil nation, citing concerns that the information could undermine the hunt for Al Qaeda operatives, the Washington Post said in its story.

"The Post learned Tuesday night that another news organisation was planning to reveal the location of the base, effectively ending an informal arrangement among several news organisations that had been aware of the location for more than a year," it wrote.

Representatives for the CIA declined to comment on the report.

The New York Times' lead story on Wednesday also reported that Mr Brennan worked closely with Saudi Arabia to gain approval to establish a secret drone base there.

ABC/Reuters