Djibouti hosts a US naval base called Camp Lemonnier, the only American military facility of its kind in Africa. Amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war, a clip circulating in Ethiopia showing buildings engulfed in flames claims Iran struck the base and other properties in Djibouti. However, this is false; Djibouti has not been attacked by Iran. The footage combines two unrelated incidents: a fire in Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and a blaze in Lebanon.
The post shared on Facebook on April 12, 2026, includes a caption reading: “Allahu akbar…Djibouti.”
The phrase is repeated as a text overlay in the accompanying 23-second clip showing burning buildings in two separate locations.
“Djibouti is currently being engulfed by a large fire,” says a male narrator speaking Amharic, one of Ethiopia’s main languages.
“Djibouti hosts an American military base, and Iran has destroyed extensive property in Djibouti with missiles today,” he continues, adding that “reports indicate the American base in Djibouti has also been attacked”.
Djibouti is home to Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent US military base in Africa which serves as a key operational hub for US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa (archived here).
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