The US Embassy in Djibouti said today that US military forces are conducting a controlled explosion near Chabelley Airport, safely destroying military equipment.
The operation is said to be to destroy weapons and military equipment found on one of the US military aircraft that recently crashed near Chabelley. The weapons and other explosives were detonated carefully to prevent any potential danger to the area.
The US Embassy said that residents living in the vicinity of Chabelley Airport may hear one or more loud explosions during the operation. The controlled explosion is scheduled to take place at approximately 4:30 p.m., and the operation is being carried out in coordination with relevant Djiboutian government agencies.
The incident came after the US Embassy informed the public that one of the US military aircraft in the Chabelley area had experienced a malfunction. The embassy said at the time that the plane had experienced a technical issue, without immediately providing further details.
However, it was later confirmed that the plane had crashed. The crash prompted a security operation at the scene and an assessment of the aircraft’s contents, including equipment and weapons.
The US embassy urged the public to follow the instructions of local authorities during the operation. It also said that media inquiries should be directed to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Public Affairs Office.
