US military pilots operating from an American base in the nation of Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, have been reporting recent incidents of “laser strikes” believed to be coming from a Chinese military base just eight miles away.
A recent “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) cautioned of “unauthorized laser activity,” adding that there had been “multiple lazing events involving a high-power laser” near the Chinese base.
The Camp Lemonnier base at the Djibouti International Airport hosts military bases from several nations, including France and Japan. Approximately 4,000 Americans are stationed there, many of whom are involved in counterterrorism and drone operations. China’s base opened in August 2017.