Suspected US Drone Crashes in Southern Somalia

May 28, 2013

by VOA News

A suspected U.S. drone has crashed in southern Somalia.

Provincial officials and al-Shabab militants say the aircraft crashed Tuesday near Bulo Marer in the Lower Shabelle region.

Lower Shabelle governor Abdikadir Mohamed Nur told VOA's Somali Service that al-Shabab militants fired anti-aircraft missiles at the aircraft before it crashed.

Al-Shabab, in a message posted to Twitter, did not claim responsibility for the downing of the drone. The group did say it has taken possession of the wreckage and moved it to a "safe location."

Although the United States does not discuss its counter-terrorism operations in Somalia, drones have been used to monitor and kill suspected al-Shabab fighters.