UN Mission Aircraft Taken by Militants After Technical Issue
In a concerning development, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabab has reportedly taken control of a United Nations (UN) helicopter that landed in their area of control in Galmudug state, Somalia. The helicopter, which was part of the UN mission in the region, encountered a technical glitch and made an emergency landing near Gadoon village in the Galgaduud region.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, the incident involved nine individuals, including military personnel and a contractor from outside the company. At least six passengers have been taken into custody by al-Shabab. A UN official in Mogadishu has confirmed the incident, and all UN flights in the vicinity have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
Shortly after the incident, Major Hassan Ali informed Reuters news agency that the helicopter had encountered a problem after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia. The aircraft was carrying medical supplies and was intended to transport injured soldiers from the Galgaduud region.
How did a UN helicopter fall into al-Shabab’s hands in Somalia? https://t.co/jourD5bvJl
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 12, 2024
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed the incident involving a UN-contracted helicopter in Galmudug, Somalia, stating, “I can confirm the incident involved a UN-contracted helicopter that took place today in Galmudug, Somalia.”
The UN is closely monitoring the situation and working to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.
-
Summit Focuses on Aid for Ukraine as Internal Divisions Threaten Unified Action European heads of state are set to...
-
A transformative partnership to boost biodiversity, resilience, and gender equality in the face of climate change. The Philippines, in...
-
Claims by the ‘Crimea Combat Seagulls’ of poisoning two dozen Russian soldiers raise questions, prompting scrutiny and calls for...
-
According to the latest annual report from the Tokyo metropolitan government, Tokyo finds itself at the bottom of Japan’s...
-
A revealing look at the tensions, beliefs, and family dynamics within the British royal family In his latest book,...
-
A single-engine aircraft en route from the Czech Republic to Croatia crashes in western Austria, prompting an investigation into...
-
Historic Bust: Massive Counterfeit Coin Operation Exposed, Unveiling Unprecedented Scale of Fake Toonies in Canada. In a groundbreaking development,...
-
Global leaders from BRICS urge restraint, humanitarian truce, and diplomatic solutions to quell the Israel-Hamas tensions. In a landmark...
-
Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls for de-escalation as fighting displaces millions and raises concerns for upcoming Congo elections....
-
The government is taking action to stop the spread of the bloodsucking pests. The South Korean government has launched...
-
Landmark ruling highlights ongoing tax challenges for short-term rental platforms in Italy In a significant development, an Italian judge...
-
Deportation Deadline Sparks Humanitarian Worries in Pakistan Pakistan’s government announced on Monday that almost 200,000 Afghan nationals have voluntarily...