U.S. expands secret drone attacks in Africa
October 28, 2011
The United States is expanding its use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, in order to conduct counterterrorism missions in Ethiopia, according to U.S. intelligence sources.
Ethiopia is one of the African nations plagued by the al-Qaeda-linked Somali terrorist group Al Shabaab, which is caring on a full scale war against Somalia's government forces and African Union troops sent into Somalia to assist in counterterrorism operations.
As a result of Ethiopia's close proximity to Somalia, terrorists from Al Shabaab have entered that country and kidnapped victims who are held for ransom and sometimes murdered.
According to a U.S. intelligence source, the Air Force deployed men to work at the Ethiopian airfield to provide operation and technical support for U.S. security assistance programs.