US Pilots Warned of Powerful Lasers Coming From Near China’s Djibouti Base

[Old_Observer]

The US military warned Friday that pilots near Djibouti airspace should exercise “extreme caution,” as high-powered lasers are reportedly emanating from near China’s naval base there.

"There have been multiple lazing events involving a high powered laser in the vicinity of N1135.70 EO4303.14," US aviation safety officials said in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
IHS Jane's said the coordinates listed in the NOTAM point to a location 750 meters from the People's Liberation Army Navy base in Djibouti.

© AFP 2018 / SOE THAN WIN

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"Use extreme caution when transiting near this area," the warning stressed.

The Federal Aviation Administration called the laser activity "unauthorized."

Djibouti is strategically located on the Horn of Africa. The US military also maintains a base in the small country, at Camp Lemonnier. Tokyo and Rome both have a base in Djibouti as well, and France hosts Spanish and German troops at its own base there.

The Chinese navy's base in Djibouti is Beijing's first foreign military base.

[Old_Observer]

(CNN)Chinese personnel at the country's first overseas military base in Djibouti have been using lasers to interfere with US military aircraft at a nearby American base, activity that has resulted in injuries to US pilots and prompted the US to launch a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing, two military officials told CNN.

The US issued a notice to airmen "to exercise caution when flying in certain areas in Djibouti," which "was issued due to lasers being directed at US aircraft on a small number of separate occasions over the last few weeks," according to the notice obtained by CNN.

"During one incident, there were two minor eye injuries of aircrew flying in a C-130 that resulted from exposure to military-grade laser beams, which were reported to have originated from the nearby Chinese base," the notice said.

 

US military resumes air operations in Djibouti

Two US military officials told CNN that the issue was of major concern as such activity can cause major accidents. The officials said that the State Department had lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing in an effort to get China to stop the activity.

 

Last month the US military was forced to briefly halt air operations in the East African nation of Djibouti, a critical location in the fight against terrorism, following a series of accidents involving aircraft. The halting of air operations was done at the request of Djiboutian government.

There are about 4,000 US personnel in Djibouti, based at Camp Lemonnier. The US military places a lot of importance on its ability to base forces in Djibouti given its critically strategic location near countries like Somalia and Yemen, where the US regularly targets terrorists in airstrikes.

But US officials have recently expressed concern about the growing influence of China in Djibouti, noting its establishment of its first military base there and its close economic links with the country.

Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, who oversees US Africa Command, acknowledged both challenges during an appearance before Congress in March.

"We are taking significant steps on the counterintelligence side so that we have all the defenses that we need there, there is no doubt about that," said Waldhauser, referring to the proximity of the new Chinese base.

[Old_Observer]

Was this warning and now official lodging of complaint,  planned to coincide with Yamamoto's visit to Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia?

"In Politics nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way"

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

[Old_Observer]

As Illey has made a Somali saying:

"This Cry is for more than a goat"

This American cry is for more than a game of pilots and spies. Something is being set up. Heaven help Djibouti Ethiopia.

[Old_Observer]

No body knows for sure why the Americans are maing big deal of this and not being specific.

First was from vicinity of Chinese base, later is from chinese base..etc. The target seems to be Ghelleh not the chinese, since Ghelleh told the Americans to stop flying there if they do not have any specific information. He was right, what if the French, German, British, Japanese are doing it as staged false flag.

It seems was false flag to start with to threaten Ghelleh that there will be war in his country.