Djibouti drone strike kills eight rebel fighters, civilians also affected

Djibouti's security forces conducted a drone strike near the Ethiopian border, resulting in the deaths of eight rebel fighters and an unspecified number of civilians, according to government officials.

The strike took place in Addorta, a locality located about six kilometres from the Ethiopian border.

The Djiboutian defence ministry confirmed the operation on Sunday, stating that the attack targeted a terrorist group.

"A drone attack was carried out against a terrorist group at Addorta, a Djiboutian village, some six kilometres (3.7 miles) from the border with Ethiopia," the ministry told AFP.

The ministry reported that eight militants were killed in the strike. It also acknowledged civilian casualties but did not specify the number of people affected.

"Collateral damage was unfortunately reported among Djiboutian civilians," the statement said.

Authorities announced that an investigation had been launched to determine the circumstances of the incident.

Presidential advisor Alexis Mohamed identified the militants as members of the Armed Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD-A).

The Djiboutian government considers FRUD-A a terrorist organisation. Officials stated that the group had engaged in activities deemed hostile, posing a possible threat to military outposts in the region.

There were conflicting reports about the location of the attack. Ethiopia's Addis Standard reported that the drone strike occurred inside Ethiopian territory. However, Djiboutian authorities denied this claim.

Alexis insisted that the operation was carried out within Djibouti's borders. Ethiopian officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.

FRUD was established in 1991 as a rebel movement composed primarily of Afar fighters. The organisation opposed the government, claiming to represent the interests of the Afar community against the Issa, another major ethnic group in the country.

Over time, FRUD split into factions. One faction became part of the political coalition supporting President Ismael Omar Guelleh, while another, known as FRUD-A, continues to engage in armed activities.

In October 2022, an attack attributed to FRUD targeted a military barracks in Garabtisan, northern Djibouti. The assault left seven soldiers dead and six others abducted. The kidnapped soldiers were later released.

Djibouti is located at a key geopolitical position near the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The country controls access to one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes. Its strategic location has led to the presence of multiple foreign military bases, including those operated by the United States and France.

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• Djibouti drone strike kills eight rebel fighters
• civilians also affected

Authorities have not provided further details on the drone strike or the number of civilians affected. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.