US MQ-9 drone crashes in Djibouti, embassy confirms

A US MQ-9 drone reportedly crashed in Djibouti, according to Iran's English-language news outlet Press TV. The report cited an earlier announcement by the US Embassy in Djibouti, which stated it was tracking an "aircraft in distress" in the country's airspace. The embassy urged residents to avoid the area of Chabelley airbase, where the incident is believed to have occurred.

The MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle used by the US military for surveillance and strike missions. The cause of the crash has not been disclosed, and no further details were provided by the embassy or other officials.

This incident adds to a series of recent crashes involving US military aircraft in the region, though the specific circumstances of this crash remain unclear. The US Embassy's advisory to avoid the area suggests that recovery or investigation efforts may be underway.

According to Press TV, the announcement was made by the US Embassy, but no official confirmation from the US military or the Djiboutian government has been released yet. The report did not mention any casualties or damage on the ground.

As of now, the US Department of Defense has not issued a statement regarding the crash. The incident highlights the ongoing US military presence in Djibouti, which hosts Camp Lemonnier, a key base for US operations in Africa and the Middle East.