Possible Use of Blinding Laser Weapon Near China's Djibouti Base Spurs US Warning to Aviators
According to a report in Jane’s Defense Weekly referenced by the South China Morning Post regarding the incident, “multiple intelligence sources” have attributed use of a high-power laser weapon at the Chinese base in Djibouti specifically. These kinds of lasers — sometimes called “dazzlers” — can be used to blind pilots and disable unmanned systems as well.
https://thediplomat.com/2018/05/possible-use-of-blinding-laser-weapon-near-chinas-djibouti-base-spurs-us-warning-to-aviators/