US navy tests laser weapon system near Ethiopia, Somalia & Yemen

US Navy has tested a high-energy laser weapon system in the Gulf of Aden close to Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen.

According to a statement released by the US navy, “during the demonstration, the Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation Laser Weapons System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 MOD 0 aboard Portland successfully engaged a static surface training target. Portland previously tested the LWSD in May 2020 when it successfully disabled a small unmanned aerial system while operating in the Pacific Ocean”.

Since tensions are running high between the US and Ethiopian governments due to the ongoing Ethiopia-Tigray war, therefore speculations are going around that this testing could be a message from the US for Ethiopia. Ethiopian government forces are using newly purchased combat drones against Tigray regional forces in the ongoing fighting in the northern part of Ethiopia.

It seems that the test is a message from the USA for Yemen, Ethiopia, Iran, China, and Russia that the US would try its best to protect its interests in the region.