Thread by @wammezz

Enter the dragon: Chinese armed #drones now confirmed on @Airbus satellite imagery flying from #Ethiopia's Harar Meda airbase and new @planet satellite imagery showed increase activity with Iranian drones at Semera. Here's our @PAXforpeace analysis 1/x

paxforpeace.nl/news/blogs/eth…

With reports of Chinese drones being involved in the #Tigray war, initial rumors of Wing Loongs II operated by the #UAE and flying from Eritrea could not confirmed to be involved in strikes in Ethiopia, as demonstrated in this @bellingcat article 2/x
bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-w…

We learned this summer that #Iran has exported armed #drones to Ethiopia, flying from Semera air base, as showed in social media images and satellite imagery, again documented by @bellingcat 3/x bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-w…

Rumors persisted over other countries selling armed #drones to Ethiopia, and in September 2021, construction of a tarmac could be spotted at a hangar south of Harar Meda, seen here on @planet Skysat imagery 4/x

We were tipped that Chinese #drones arrived early November, and ordered @airbus imagery that indeed shows two drones, fitting the characteristics and measurements of the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group's Wing Loong drone on two dates parked outside the hangar 5/x

This confirmed indications of both statements given by Ethiopia's defence officials in interviews and flight tracking by @Gerjon_ of transport planes coming in from China, originating from a city where the Wing Loong drone factory is located 6/x

https://twitter.com/Gerjon_/status/1448738540679057409?s=20

At the same time, we also kept monitoring the Semera Air base where @planet satellite imagery showed aircraft, with measurements fitting the Iranian Mohajer-6 drones, were seen on various dates on both the runway and tarmac in Sept-November 7/x

There are persistent rumours that #Ethiopia has acquired Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 #drones this summer, as reported in the Guardian, and allegedly spotted flying near Harar Meda, according to a source shared with @Gerjon_ but not confirmed on ground 8/x
theguardian.com/world/2021/nov…

Considering the many documented violations of the laws of war by Ethiopia one wonders how #China can approve these sales under the #Armstreaty obligations that should have prevented such sales. This underscores the need for stricter controls on drones proliferation and use 9/END

Addendum: we overlooked this but well spotted by @oryxspioenkop: there is also the Command and Control Center build next to the runway with Ground Control Stations and satellite uplinks for the Wing Loong (and other?) drones at Harar Meda, #Ethiopia.