US Military Pilots Face Growing Laser Beam Threat in Middle East - Pentagon Officials
Laser beam attacks conducted by terrorists pose a growing threat for US troops operating in the Middle East, US media reported on Friday, quoting Pentagon officials.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2018) Laser beam attacks conducted by terrorists pose a growing threat for US troops operating in the middle East, US media reported on Friday, quoting Pentagon officials.
US military aircrews operating in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have reported more than 350 lasing incidents over the past seven months, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials at US Air Forces Central Command in Qatar.
The report noted that this year has seen a significant surge in such incidents, with only 400 such attacks recorded for the entire year in 2017.
Such attacks are dangerous and can confuse aircrew, temporarily interfere with their vision or even permanently damage the eyesight of US service members, US Central Command Spokesman Bill Urban is quoted as saying in the report.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon reported a series of laser beam attacks against US troops in African state of Djibouti and near Chinese military base in the East China Sea. Beijing has denied its involvement in these incidents.