Thousands of demonstrators gathered up forming a human chain along the perimeter of a U.S. Air Force Base in southwest Germany on Saturday in protest against drone operations staged by the United States.

The demonstration was organized by the alliance “Stop Ramstein – No Drone War”, which says the Ramstein base transmits information between operators in the United States and unmanned drone aircraft in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Syria.

Police estimated the masses to comprise 3-4,000 people who had formed the chain close to the base, which serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Organizers spoke of 5-7,000 people. No comment was made available on Saturday from officials at Ramstein.

The use of drones is highly controversial in Germany, where an aversion to military conflict has prevailed since World War Two. Organizers say allowing data for drone deployments to be routed through Ramstein goes against the German constitution and want the base’s satellite relay station to be closed.

Nearly 15 years after a drone first fired missiles in combat, the U.S. military program has expanded to become an everyday part of the war machine for carrying out surveillance and launching strikes. President Barack Obama last month approved a drone strike in a remote area of Pakistan that allegedly killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour. U.S. officials said he had been overseeing plans for new attacks on U.S. targets in Kabul. Critics argue drones often miss their projected targets.