MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Turkish Airlines has temporarily suspended all flights to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu following a US terror alert issued on Tuesday that warned of potential attacks, including possible targeting of Mogadishu Airport, Shabelle TV reported on Wednesday.
The suspension, effective from March 5 to 12, is a precautionary measure in response to heightened security concerns.
The decision highlights the volatile security situation in the country. In 2016, the airline narrowly avoided a devastating incident when an Al-Shabaab suicide bomber, originally intending to board a Turkish Airlines flight, instead targeted a Daallo Airlines plane after the Turkish carrier canceled its departure due to adverse weather.
The attacker later detonated an explosive device concealed in a laptop mid-air on the Daallo flight, underscoring the persistent threat posed by the militant group.
Turkey has been a key player in efforts to combat Al-Shabaab, providing military training and equipment to thousands of Somali soldiers and conducting airstrikes to disrupt the group’s operations.
The suspension of flights reflects the ongoing challenges in ensuring security in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab continues to wage a violent insurgency.
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