Exclusive: U.S. soldiers Evacuated from American base in Djibouti seek Refuge at Entebbe Airport over Iran threat

Camp Lemonnier is the biggest American military base in Africa

Hundreds of United States soldiers who were stationed at Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti the only permanent American military base in Africa, have reportedly sought temporary refuge in Uganda and are currently being hosted at Entebbe International Airport, where they are staying in makeshift shelters and other facilities within the airport premises.

According to information exclusively obtained by this investigative website, the soldiers were evacuated from Djibouti amid fears that Iran could target the strategic military installation following the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States.

Other American troops stationed at Camp Lemonnier were reportedly evacuated to neighboring Kenya as part of precautionary security measures.

Camp Lemonnier serves as a critical hub for U.S. military operations across the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean region. The base is located next to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport and hosts about 4,000 personnel attached to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

The evacuation comes in the wake of dramatic developments in the Middle East following the assassination of Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, during a series of coordinated airstrikes around Tehran targeting senior Iranian officials.

His death reportedly occurred as part of a wider joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel, which relied on intelligence from the Central Intelligence Agency to track the locations of several Iranian leaders.

Since the assassination, Iran has launched multiple missile attacks targeting U.S. military installations in several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Iranian officials have also warned that additional American facilities around the world could be targeted in retaliation.

It is against this backdrop that hundreds of American soldiers stationed in Djibouti were evacuated to what officials considered safer locations in Uganda and Kenya.

A highly placed official at Entebbe International Airport confirmed to this investigative website that the soldiers were received upon arrival and are currently being accommodated while the security situation continues to be monitored.

“The soldiers were welcomed and are being taken care of here as the situation unfolds,” the official said.

Efforts to obtain an official comment from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces were unsuccessful.

The acting spokesperson of the UPDF, Chris Magezi, could not be reached as calls to his known telephone contact did not go through.

However, a separate source at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, which manages operations at Entebbe International Airport, confirmed that the soldiers are being hosted in a combination of permanent high-end facilities and temporary structures within the airport area.

“They are living in very good conditions,” the source said, declining to provide additional details about the arrangement.

The development highlights the continuing security cooperation between the government of Uganda and the United States, despite recent tensions between some officials in Washington and Uganda’s military leadership.

Earlier this year, Jim Risch, chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that Washington could reconsider its long-standing security partnership with Uganda following statements by the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accusing the Embassy of the United States in Kampala of supporting opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi.

Gen. Kainerugaba later apologized and deleted the posts on social media, explaining that the claims had been based on incorrect intelligence.

Meanwhile, Yoweri Museveni recently commented on the Iran–U.S. conflict, describing both countries as “our friends” and recalling that Uganda has maintained relations with both nations since the National Resistance Movement came to power in 1986.

The escalating conflict has also begun affecting global economies, particularly energy markets, with disruptions reported in fuel shipments and production.

In one recent incident, Saudi Arabia announced the temporary closure of one of its largest gas plants after intercepting Iranian missiles believed to have been targeting the facility.

Airspace closures across several affected countries have also disrupted international travel, leaving many passengers stranded in different parts of the world.

The conflict has already resulted in significant destruction of property and loss of life. Reports indicate that as many as 30,000 people may have died in Iran since the escalation of hostilities.

It has also triggered widespread displacement, a situation illustrated by the hundreds of American soldiers currently being hosted at Entebbe Airport.

This investigative website is continuing to follow the story and will provide further details about the presence of U.S. soldiers at Entebbe International Airport as more information becomes available.