Two secret US drone bases found in Somalia

The US turned out to have two drone bases in the territory of Somalia. Foreign Policy correspondent Ty McCormick found out that about 120 US military men deployed there strike Al-Shabab terrorists and reportedly cooperate with African Union peacekeepers.

The bases are situated in the southern port city of Kismayo and Baledogle aiarfield near Mogadishu. The Somali officials have confirmed the fact and acknowledged that the Americans also train Somali security forces. Regional administration official Abdighani Abdi Jama told that as many as 40 US personnel conduct “intelligence” and “counterterrorism” operations and operate drones from their base at Kismayo airport.

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokesman Chuck Prichard said that, “the exact nature of this support, weapons systems or number of personnel involved in these operations cannot be disclosed in order to protect the integrity of these operations and the safety of units in the region.” The US though doesn’t have an official permission to use unmanned flying vehicles in the territory of Somalia.

On more than one occasion, US special operations teams have staged their attacks from bases belonging to Kenyan and Ugandan forces within AMISOM says McCormick, citing anonymous sources from within the peacekeeping mission. “They come to our forward operating bases and sometimes do joint operations with us,” said one Ugandan source. “We often don’t get much notice,” he added. “They don’t trust us, and we don’t trust them.” Striking the territories, where terrorists presumably are, the Americans kill civilians most of the cases.

More than 100 residents have been killed so far. In 90% cases, the drones are reported to kill civilians and destroy their homes. Also read: US special forces experiment with smallest flying robot ever

Pravda.Ru