The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been operating a clandestine airbase for unmanned drones in Saudi Arabia for the past two years.
The base was established for the purpose of hunting down al Qaeda members in the Arabian Peninsula, reported a UK-based news agency.
A drone took flight from this facility in September 2011 to kill Anwar al Awlaki, a US-born Muslim cleric who was suspected to be the head of al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) external operations.
The report further asserted that the American media had been aware of its existence since then, but had not reported on it.
Senior US government officials had stated that they were concerned that the disclosure of the secret facility would undercut operations against the AQAP and potentially damage collaboration efforts with Saudi Arabia in the war against terrorism.
CIA operating secret drone base in Saudi
