The United States has now confessed that its predator drones are flying over the African nation of Ethiopia as part of a counter-terrorism campaign in the Horn of Africa, however, it was clarified that they were unarmed and not carrying out any raids. Captain John Kirby, the spokesman of the Pentagon, said that the United States currently has unmanned and unarmed predator aircraft at a facility, which are only used for the purpose of surveillance, being the part of a broader and well-coordinated integrated campaign to counter terrorism.

He said that these drones were not being used to carry out any strikes but were confined only to the purpose of carrying surveillance. Both the White House and the Pentagon have confirmed the flights of drones from an airfield in Arba Minch. The Washington Post was the first to report the news of this operation. However, the Washington Post, citing unnamed officials, had reported that the drones were armed, but the American officials insisted that these drones were not at all armed.

The presence of US Air force in Ethiopia is a delicate and complex issue and American officials are really trying hard to defuse any concerns or tensions regarding the broader and expanding American military presence throughout the African region. It is noteworthy that the American intelligence agencies are already operating on a wide scale in Africa. Kirby said categorically that there is not any presence of American military bases in Ethiopia. It is solely an Ethiopian airfield. Concerns have been rising that USA is expanding its military presence in the African continent. Some believe that it is to keep a check on insurgent activities, while others insist it is aimed at monitoring the increasing Chinese influence there.

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