The government of Djibouti grounded all U.S. military flights Wednesday at a base crucial to the U.S. fight against terror in Yemen and Somalia after two aircraft mishaps in as many days, according to three U.S. defense officials.

On Tuesday, a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed as it was taking off at the African nation's Ambouli International Airport. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. Naval Expeditionary Base there.

On Wednesday, a CH-53 helicopter suffered structural damage during a landing in Arta Beach. No one was injured, according to Cmdr. Bill Urban, spokesperson for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

A U.S. Marine CH-53 helicopter dislodges U.S. and Philippine marines during a live-fire exercise called Phiblex 2013 in the northern Philippines on Oct. 16, 2012. Bullit Marquez

Both aircraft were participating in Alligator Dagger, an annual amphibious exercise in the region.

The U.S. has about 4,000 troops stationed at Camp Lemonnier, which serves as a base for U.S. operations against jihadis in Somalia and Yemen. Djibouti is on the Horn of Africa across the Gulf of Aden from southwestern Yemen.

During this flight suspension U.S. military aircraft cannot operate from either the commercial airport or from the U.S. military base.

The officials could not say how long the aircraft would be grounded or what impact it is having on U.S. military operations in the region.</s>On Tuesday, a US Marine Corps Harrier jet crashed at the country's international airport. The pilot was able to eject but is being treated at a medical facility. Later the same day, a Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter sustained "minor damage" while landing in Arta Beach. While the helicopter's crew was uninjured, the officials told CNN that the military is investigating reports that two civilians were injured by debris from the helicopter's rotor wash.

Following those accidents, the Djiboutian government sent the US a diplomatic notice requesting that all flying operations be halted, the officials said.

The US decision to halt air operations has also led the military to cancel Alligator Dagger, the military exercise that both aircraft were participating in.

There are about 4,000 US personnel in Djibouti, based at Camp Lemonnier, and US forces there support military operations against the terrorist group al Shabaab in neighboring Somalia. The grounding of aircraft could affect both counterterrorism operations in Somalia, such as drone strikes, and support to Camp Lemonnier the officials said.

Two of the officials told CNN that the US military and the State Department are working with the government of Djibouti to get approval for flights on a case-by-case basis to ensure that support to both Somalia operations and Camp Lemonnier continue. The US military places a lot of importance on its ability to base forces in Djibouti given its critically strategic location near countries like Somalia and Yemen. But US officials have recently expressed concern about the growing influence of China in Djibouti, noting its recent establishment of a military base there as well as close Chinese economic links with the country.</s>At the request of the Djiboutian government, the US military has halted its air operations in the East African country, a critical location in the fight against terrorism, following two accidents involving military aircraft, three defense officials told CNN.

On Tuesday, a US Marine Corps Harrier jet crashed at the country’s international airport. The pilot was able to eject and was treated at a medical facility but has since been released according to several officials. Later the same day, a Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter sustained “minor damage” while landing in Arta Beach. While the helicopter’s crew was uninjured, the officials told CNN that the US Navy is investigating reports that two civilians were injured by debris from the helicopter’s rotor wash. However, the officials said that US Navy investigators have not been granted access to the alleged victims by local police.

Following those accidents, the Djiboutian government sent the US a diplomatic notice requesting that all flying operations be halted, the officials said.

The US decision to halt air operations has also led the military to cancel Alligator Dagger, the military exercise that both aircraft were participating in.

“US air operations in Djibouti are on hold and US Naval Forces Central Command has canceled the remainder of exercise Alligator Dagger in response to two separate aviation incidents in Djibouti on April 3, 2018,” Cdr. Bill Urban, a spokesman for US Naval Forces Central Command, told CNN.

Urban said that both the Harrier and CH-53 incidents “are currently under a joint investigation.”

There are about 4,000 US personnel in Djibouti, based at Camp Lemonnier, and US forces there support military operations against the terrorist group al Shabaab in neighboring Somalia. The grounding of aircraft could affect both counterterrorism operations in Somalia, such as drone strikes, and support to Camp Lemonnier the officials said.

Two of the officials told CNN that the US military and the State Department are working with the government of Djibouti to get approval for flights on a case-by-case basis to ensure that support to both Somalia operations and Camp Lemonnier continue.

The US military places a lot of importance on its ability to base forces in Djibouti given its critically strategic location near countries like Somalia and Yemen.

But US officials have recently expressed concern about the growing influence of China in Djibouti, noting its recent establishment of a military base there as well as close Chinese economic links with the country.</s>The Pentagon has canceled a training exercise in the Djibouti region following two separate aviation mishaps this week, officials said Thursday, as the US military grapples with a spate of flight accidents.

The government of Djibouti ordered the grounding of military flights following the incidents, said Commander Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

As a consequence an amphibious training exercise known as Alligator Dagger was canceled.

"A safety stand-down has been initiated for all exercise participants," Urban said.

The US military has been rocked by a string of aviation accidents in recent days, including an F-16 crash near Las Vegas on Wednesday that killed the pilot.

On Tuesday, four crew members died when a Marine Corps helicopter crashed while on a routine training mission in Southern California.

And in Djibouti, two incidents on Tuesday triggered the grounding of US military flights.

The first saw an AV-8B Harrier jet crash at Djibouti International Airport. The pilot, who ejected, survived the crash.

Then separately, a Marine CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter suffered "structural damage" during a landing at a landing zone at Djibouti's Arta Beach, Urban said. The crew in that case was not injured.

The US base in Djibouti is a key a staging area for the US in its anti-jihadist campaigns in Yemen and Somalia.

Pentagon spokesman Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said there was no apparent linkage between any of the accidents.

"We regret each one. We'll look at them carefully. I'm certainly not prepared to say that it's a wave of mishaps or some form of crisis," McKenzie said.</s>On Tuesday, a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed as it was taking off at the African nation's Ambouli International Airport. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. Naval Expeditionary Base there.

On Wednesday, a CH-53 helicopter suffered structural damage during a landing in Arta Beach. No one was injured, according to Cmdr. Bill Urban, spokesperson for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

Both aircraft were participating in Alligator Dagger, an annual amphibious exercise in the region.

The U.S. has about 4,000 troops stationed at Camp Lemonnier, which serves as a base for U.S. operations against jihadis in Somalia and Yemen. Djibouti is on the Horn of Africa across the Gulf of Aden from southwestern Yemen.

During this flight suspension U.S. military aircraft cannot operate from either the commercial airport or from the U.S. military base.

The officials could not say how long the aircraft would be grounded or what impact it is having on U.S. military operations in the region.</s>iStock/Thinkstock(DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti) — The U.S. military has canceled the rest of the ongoing “Alligator Dagger” exercise in Djibouti at the request of that country’s government following two back-to-back aviation accidents on Tuesday involving Marine aircraft.

No U.S. personnel were hurt in the accidents, but a U.S. official said they had raised concerns with Djibouti’s government and as a result, it grounded U.S. aircraft participating in the exercise.

That led the United States to call off the exercise involving Marine personnel and aircraft from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit said the officials. The Marines are currently deployed aboard ships with the USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group currently offshore of the East African country.

“U.S. air operations in Djibouti are on hold and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command has canceled the remainder of exercise Alligator Dagger in response to two separate aviation incidents in Djibouti on April 3, 2018,” said Commander Bill Urban, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

On Tuesday, an AV-8B Harrier jet crashed while taking off from the airport at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The pilot was able to eject and was cleared for duty following a medical evaluation.

Later that same day, a Marine CH-53 helicopter carried out a “hard landing” at a beach few miles outside of the capital of Djibouti City. It is not known what prompted the landing and though the helicopter was damaged no U.S. personnel aboard were hurt in the incident.

“The aircrew were not injured during the landing and the helicopter has remained at the landing site pending additional assessment,” said Urban.

“Both incidents are currently under a joint investigation, and we will provide more information when able,” he added. “A safety stand-down has been initiated for all exercise participants.”

NBC News was first to report that the government of Djibouti had grounded American aircraft participating in the exercise.</s>Somalia's breakaway northern region of Somaliland declared its independence nearly three decades ago, but despite having its own currency, parliament and military the predominantly Muslim country hasn't been recognized by any foreign government.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi is hoping to change that by aligning his country's interests with energy-rich Gulf Arab states eager to expand their military footprint in the Horn of Africa along the vital shipping corridor of Bab al-Mandeb, the entryway to the Red Sea for ships from Asia and oil tankers from the Gulf heading to Europe.

Speaking to The Associated Press in the capital, Hargeisa, on Tuesday, Abdi defended an agreement that allows the United Arab Emirates to establish a military base in Somaliland.

"Our government is not so strong and our zone needs to be protected," he said. "I think we need a friendly country to have a with military security, we need it."

Securing the Horn of Africa has become increasingly important for Gulf countries since March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched a war against Iran-allied rebels in Yemen. On Tuesday, the coalition, which includes the UAE, said the rebels attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, causing minor damage.

Abdi declined to disclose how many Emirati troops would be based in Somaliland or when construction of the base will be complete. The lease for the base is for 25 years.

"All our business, main assets, are in Dubai. All our imports depend on United Arab Emirates, their ports," he said. "We have relations of business and economic ties with them, so we are allies with them."

Abdi, who won elections in November, spoke Tuesday from his office in Somaliland's capital of Hergeisa, home to around 1 million people. Somaliland is far more peaceful than Somalia, where the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group carries out frequent attacks.

Except for a Coca-Cola factory outside the largely impoverished city, there are no visible signs of multinational companies. The city, which moves without traffic lights, is not home to any major international hotel chains, American fast food restaurants or bustling shopping malls.

Somaliland signed an agreement last year with one of the world's largest port operators, DP World, to operate its Port of Berbera. The agreement with DP World, which is majority-owned by the Dubai government in the UAE, was signed the same year that the UAE's plans to build a naval base in Berbera were revealed.

The UAE, which is also reportedly building up a long-term military presence in Eritrea, is not the only country with troops in East Africa. Turkey opened a military base in Somalia last year. Neighboring Djibouti is home to a U.S. base that launches drone missions over Somalia and Yemen, as well as a Chinese military base and Japan's first overseas base since World War II.

Last week, Somalia asked for the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop the UAE from building the military base in Somaliland. Somalia said the agreement between the Gulf state and Somaliland, which it refers to as the "Northwestern Region of Somalia," was made without the consent of Somalia's government and is in "clear violation of international law."

"We feel that we have the right to be recognized. We have the right for self-determination under the U.N. charter," Shire told the AP. "That's a fact which I think everybody should recognize, and perhaps the UAE is finally coming around to recognize that fact as well."

DP World's recent expansion into Somaliland creates an alternative corridor for imports for landlocked Ethiopia, a country of 110 million people and the largest economy in the Horn of Africa. Cargo going to Ethiopia currently constitutes 15 of Berbera port's operations.</s>Somalia's breakaway northern region of Somaliland declared its independence nearly three decades ago, but despite having its own currency, parliament and military the predominantly Muslim country hasn't been recognized by any foreign government.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi is hoping to change that by aligning his country's interests with energy-rich Gulf Arab states eager to expand their military footprint in the Horn of Africa along the vital shipping corridor of Bab al-Mandeb, the entryway to the Red Sea for ships from Asia and oil tankers from the Gulf heading to Europe.

Speaking to The Associated Press in the capital, Hargeisa, on Tuesday, Abdi defended an agreement that allows the United Arab Emirates to establish a military base in Somaliland.

"Our government is not so strong and our zone needs to be protected," he said. "I think we need a friendly country to have a cooperation with military security, we need it."

Securing the Horn of Africa has become increasingly important for Gulf countries since March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched a war against Iran-allied rebels in Yemen. On Tuesday, the coalition, which includes the UAE, said the rebels attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, causing minor damage.

Abdi declined to disclose how many Emirati troops would be based in Somaliland or when construction of the base will be complete. The lease for the base is for 25 years.

"Yes, we are allied to the United Arab Emirates and to Saudi (Arabia)," Abdi said.

"All our business, main assets, are in Dubai. All our imports depend on United Arab Emirates, their ports," he said. "We have relations of business and economic ties with them, so we are allies with them."

Abdi, who won elections in November, spoke Tuesday from his office in Somaliland's capital of Hergeisa, home to around 1 million people. Somaliland is far more peaceful than Somalia, where the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group carries out frequent attacks.

Except for a Coca-Cola factory outside the largely impoverished city, there are no visible signs of multinational companies. The city, which moves without traffic lights, is not home to any major international hotel chains, American fast food restaurants or bustling shopping malls.

Instead, the country is capitalizing on its strategic location near Bab al-Mandeb.

Somaliland signed an agreement last year with one of the world's largest port operators, DP World, to operate its Port of Berbera. The agreement with DP World, which is majority-owned by the Dubai government in the UAE, was signed the same year that the UAE's plans to build a naval base in Berbera were revealed.

It's the latest example of how DP World's business dealings in East Africa increasingly mirror the UAE's military expansion in the region.

The UAE, which is also reportedly building up a long-term military presence in Eritrea, is not the only country with troops in East Africa. Turkey opened a military base in Somalia last year. Neighboring Djibouti is home to a U.S. base that launches drone missions over Somalia and Yemen, as well as a Chinese military base and Japan's first overseas base since World War II.

Last week, Somalia asked for the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop the UAE from building the military base in Somaliland. Somalia said the agreement between the Gulf state and Somaliland, which it refers to as the "Northwestern Region of Somalia," was made without the consent of Somalia's government and is in "clear violation of international law."

Somaliland's minister of foreign affairs, Saad Ali Shire, said his country's alliance with the UAE is a sign of the growing "realization that Somaliland should be recognized."

"We feel that we have the right to be recognized. We have the right for self-determination under the U.N. charter," Shire told the AP. "That's a fact which I think everybody should recognize, and perhaps the UAE is finally coming around to recognize that fact as well."

DP World's recent expansion into Somaliland creates an alternative corridor for imports for landlocked Ethiopia, a country of 110 million people and the largest economy in the Horn of Africa. Cargo going to Ethiopia currently constitutes 15 percent of Berbera port's operations.

DP World holds a 51 percent stake in the port, Somaliland holds a 30 percent stake and Ethiopia holds the remaining 19 percent.

DP World operations in Berbera threaten Djibouti's near monopoly on Ethiopia's imports and exports. Djibouti's port provides Ethiopia with more than 95 percent of Ethiopia's imports.

The deal with Somaliland prompted Djibouti to abruptly end DP World's contract for its Doraleh container terminal in February.

DP World's Berbera operations manager, Ali Ismail Mahamoud, acknowledged that the port is a competitor in East Africa. He spoke to the AP on a recent visit to the port.

"Whenever you open a port near another port which is close to it, definitely you have to be competitive. (We are) not purely competitive with Djibouti, but I would define it as we have to be competitive," he said.</s>WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. military has canceled a training exercise off the coast of Djibouti and paused air operations from the country after two separate air mishaps earlier this week, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

"U.S. air operations in Djibouti are on hold and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command has canceled the remainder of exercise Alligator Dagger in response to two separate aviation incidents in Djibouti," the military said in a statement.

On Tuesday, a U.S. Marine Corps jet crashed in Djibouti. The pilot was in stable condition. In a separate incident, a CH-53 helicopter suffered "structural damage" during a landing at Arta Beach, Djibouti. (Reporting by Idrees Ali Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)</s>The U.S. military has cancelled the remainder of a training exercise in the Horn of Africa, and the government of Djibouti has halted U.S. military air operations there, following two U.S. Marine aircraft crashes this week in Djibouti.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie says the decision to cancel the remainder of an exercise called Alligator Dagger was “a reasonable precaution” in light of the aviation accidents, which happened separately but within a few hours of each other on Tuesday.

McKenzie said the U.S. and the government of Djibouti jointly decided to suspend all U.S. military flights there. He said he had no other details.

The U.S. conducts sensitive surveillance and counterterrorism air missions out of Djibouti.

The accidents are under investigation.
Djibouti grounds all flights at a US military base in the country after two accidents in two days. The base is used for counterterror operations in Yemen and Somalia.