Defence News quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White as saying on May 3, 2018 that two U.S. airmen suffered “minor” injuries as a result of the use of Chinese-deployed lasers in Djibouti. She said that the U.S. has formally lodged a diplomatic complaint, known as a demarche, with the Chinese government, requesting an investigation into the incident. Adding “This activity poses a true threat to our airmen,” White said “It’s a serious matter, so we’re taking it very seriously.” Maj. Sheryll Klinke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, confirmed to reporters after the briefing that the injuries were the result of one incident, in which two pilots of a C-130 aircraft were hit by a “military grade” laser. The pilots are not expected to suffer any long-term effects. White did not have an exact number for how many incidents there had been, putting it between two and 10, all within the last few weeks. News of the injuries was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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