The secret documents, to which the German magazine “Der Spiegel” gained access, revealed that drone operations in the Middle East were controlled and operated from the US military base Ramstein in Germany.

The German magazine “Der Spiegel” has reportedly gained access to a number of “top secret” documents, which revealed the fact that nearly all US drone attacks in the Middle East were controlled and operated from the US military base Ramstein located in Germany.

According to the magazine, this information may be a blow to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, because in this case Germany will have to share the responsibility for the killing of civilians in the Middle East and other regions.

Under the terms of the contract, Americans can use the base only in correspondence with the German law, “Der Spiegel” wrote. Ramstein is the US largest military base outside of the country. It is well known as transport hub for US troops on their way to the Middle East.

However, the documents, dated to July 2012, contain graphics showing that the base is also used to command drone strikes’ operations in the Middle East.

Ramstein transmitted a signal to command the drones about what they should do, an American who is familiar with the secret military program said, cited by “Der Spiegel”. “Without Ramstein, [US] drones could not function, at least not as they do now,” he said.

Drone strikes have caused mass killings of civilian population in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and other countries. Only in Pakistan 337 drone strikes were carried out in the period 2004-2012, killing 1900 — 3220 people. From 1610 to 2770 were suspected to be terrorists, but only 51 of them were officially identified as terrorist leaders or warlords. Others are supposed to be civilians.