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Department of the Navy; CIA World Factbook. Image source: GeoEye via Google Earth. The Washington Post.
An end to drone flights from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
Alarmed by a string of aviation accidents, the government of Djibouti has forced the U.S. military to move a large fleet of drones from Camp Lemonnier, in the capital, to a more remote location in the desert. The Pentagon began intensifying drone operations from Camp Lemonnier in 2011 and has been investing heavily to upgrade the base into a major regional hub for counterterrorism operations.
U.S. Moves Drone Fleet From Camp Lemonnier To Ease Djibouti’s Safety Concerns -- Washington Post
The U.S. military has been forced to relocate a large fleet of drones from a key counterterrorism base on the Horn of Africa after a string of crashes fanned local fears that the unmanned aircraft were at risk of colliding with passenger planes, according to documents and interviews.
Air Force drones ceased flying this month from Camp Lemonnier, a U.S. installation in Djibouti, after local officials expressed alarm about several drone accidents and mishaps in recent years. The base serves as the combat hub for counterterrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia, playing a critical role in U.S. operations against al-Shabab, the Somali Islamist militia that has asserted responsibility for the Nairobi shopping mall attack, which killed more than 60 people.
Read more ....
More News On The U.S. Military Moving It's Drone Fleet From Camp Lemonnier In Djibouti
US Moves Drones from Key Africa Base -- Voice of America
US relocates drones airfield after Djibouti crashes -- AFP
US moves East African drone base following series of crashes -- RT
Djibouti Has Had It With All These American Drone Crashes -- The Atlantic
My Comment: Camp Lemonnier may be losing it's drone fleet .... but it is still going to be expanded as a forward operating site.
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