20111029
Press TV
The United States is reportedly using a secret airfield in southern Ethiopia to carry out assassination drone attacks in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The civilian airfield in Ethiopia's southern city of Arba Minch is part of a network of secret bases for unmanned aircraft, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing unnamed US officials.

The US Air Force has spent millions of dollars to improve the airfield in Ethiopia to accommodate a fleet of Reaper drones that carry Hellfire missiles and precision-guided bombs, according to the report.

Washington has stepped up the unauthorized airstrikes since President Barack Obama took office in 2009.

The White House has increasingly turned to drones to carry out covert strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

The US claims the drone strikes target militants. However, casualty figures indicate that the aerial bombings have led to the loss of civilians, too.

The raids are conducted under the authority of the Central Intelligence Agency.