Baledogle Airfield

Baledogle Airfield is a military airbase located in the district of Wanlaweyn in Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. It is situated approximately 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu, halfway to Baidoa.[1]

Baledogle Airfield
Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Baledogle Airfield
Location in Somalia
Coordinates2°40′20″N 44°47′5″E
TypeAir Force Base
Airfield information
Elevation298 ft (91 m) AMSL

The former Soviet built[2] airport served as a base for the Somali Air Force.[3][4] It is currently used by multi-national forces including the United States which operates drones against Al-Shabaab militants.[5]

Infrastructure at the airbase was expanded with the addition of 800 units of accommodation for American troops from June 2017 to May 2018. The construction of at least 208 was through the U.S. Army's Logistical Civil Augmentation Program and 600 beds were constructed under the Department of State's Africa Peacekeeping Program.[6] The buildup coincides with an escalation by U.S. forces in their fight against al Qaida-linked al-Shabaab.[7]

Al-Shabaab militants attacked the base with car bombs in September 2019.[8]

References
  1. (ed.), Nina J. Fitzgerald (2002). Somalia : issues, history and bibliography. New York: Nova Science Publ. p. 28. ISBN 1590332652.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "A Return to Somalia". Newsweek. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. "Somalia: Al Shabaab Preparing for 'All-Out War'?". Stratfor. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  4. Hammer, Joshua. "Somalia's Somewhat Friendly Skies". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  5. "Exclusive: U.S. Operates Drones From Secret Bases in Somalia". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  6. Goldbaum, Christina (3 May 2018). "Exclusive: Massive military base buildup suggests the US shadow war in Somalia is only getting bigger". Vice Media. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  7. "Exclusive: Massive military base buildup suggests the U.S. shadow war in Somalia is only getting bigger". VICE News. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  8. Sakelaris, Nicholas (September 30, 2019). "Car bombs target U.S. military base in Somalia". UPI. Al-Shabab militants attacked a U.S. airbase in Somalia Monday with a combination of car bombs and small arms fire, authorities said. The group claimed responsibility for the attack at the Ballidogle air base, located about 55 miles from the capital Mogadishu.


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