United Nations helicopter, with eight passengers on board, has been seized by the terror group al-Shabaab following an emergency landing in a region under the militant control in Somalia.
The incident occurred after the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in an area under the control of the extremist organization, as confirmed by a UN spokesperson reported by CNN.
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated on Wednesday that an assessment team is being readied in response to the helicopter’s capture.
The emergency assistance helicopter had landed unexpectedly in Somalia’s Galmudug region, a territory firmly held by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, likely due to a mechanical issue, according to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA).
The helicopter was conducting an air medical evacuation, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and efforts for a rescue mission are currently underway, especially given the presence of eight passengers, including foreigners.
This incident follows closely on the heels of the death of Maalim Ayman, a senior leader of al-Shabaab, who was killed on December 17 in a joint military operation involving Somali and US forces.
Announcing Ayman’s demise, Somali Minister for Information Daud Aweis revealed that Ayman was responsible for orchestrating multiple deadly terrorist attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries.
Notably, Ayman had a direct hand in the terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at Kenya’s Manda Bay Airfield on January 5, 2020, as confirmed by US officials.
