MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s government said on Wednesday Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabaab militants seized a helicopter carrying medical supplies for the army in the central federal member state of Galmudug, Caasimada Online news website reported.
The helicopter used for emergency assistance operations was carrying medical supplies for the Somali army and was heading to the town of Wisil in Mudug region when it crash-landed in Al-Shabaab-held territory in Galgadud region, authorities said in a statement.
All UN passengers and crew members were taken hostage by insurgents, and there was an ongoing operation to rescue them, the statement added.
There have been unconfirmed reports that militants shot at the helicopter and forced it to land. The United Nations mission in Somalia and Al-Shabaab have not yet commented on the reports.
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