A surveillance drone thought to belong to US intelligence agencies, has crashed in Bariire town in lower shabelle region of Somalia.
Al Shabaab militants who still control parts of the region took the wreckage of the aircraft, residents who spoke on condition of anonymity told Radio Dalsan.
The United States uses unmanned aircraft in its campaign against al-Shabaab and over the past years several senior officials of the group were killed in airstrikes.
In 2013 a suspected US surveillance drone crashed near the town of Bulo Mareer in the Lower Shabelle region of the country. The group released photos purported to be of the surveillance drone.
Previously drone strikes have targeted senior members of the group, which is fighting to topple Somalia’s internationally recognised government.
In July last year the town of Baardheere, which was then under the rebels’ control, was targeted by a dawn drone strike, which killed two senior commanders, according to government officials.
Written By Hassan Istiila
