US aircraft targeted with lasers in Djibouti: Pentagon

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. aircraft flying over Djibouti were targeted with lasers directed from an area where China's military base is located, causing minor injuries to American pilots, according to the Pentagon on Thursday.

"They are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries," Pentagon spokesperson Dana White told reporters at a daily news briefing.

"This activity poses a threat to our airmen," she added.

White said the U.S. is confident that Chinese nationals are responsible for the use of the lasers and added that formal complaint has been issued to China over the incident.

Earlier in the day, Pentagon officials told local media that two American pilots flying with a C-130 turboprop transport suffered eye injuries after being targeted by the laser.

Turning to a question about the Pentagon's reaction over China's surface-to-air missiles installation in South China Sea, White noted that Washington has voiced its concerns about China's militarization at artificial islands.

"We will continue to do our operations and ensure that the Chinese understand that they cannot, and should not, be hostile and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through," she said.

White also said that U.S. planes have been exposed to laser harassment for a long time, but this number has increased in the last few weeks.