Somalia’s al-Shabab militants seizes surveillance drone

Mogadishu-(Puntland Mirror) Somalia’s al-Shabab militants says it has captured a surveillance drone after it crashed in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia yesterday.

The pro-al-Shabab media released pictures to be of the surveillance drone.

It is not clear what brought down the drone and no nation has claimed, but U.S military frequently conducts drone surveillance flights over Somalia.

The U.S has been using drones to attack al-Shabab militants in the southern Somalia. In September 2014, the group’s masterful leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane (Abu-subayr) was killed by a U.S drone strike.

Who is al-Shabab?

* Founded between 2004 and 2006.

* Official name, al-Shabab means “Youth” in a Arabic.

* Al-Shabab is battling to overthrow internationally recognized Somali government.

* In 2008, the U.S government designated al-Shabab as terrorist organization.

* In 2012, al-Shabab pledged allegiance to the al-Qaeda organization.

* In 2014, al-Shabab troops were estimated at 7,000 to 9,000.

* In early August 2011, Somali government troops and their AMISOM allies managed to capture all of Somali capital, Mogadishu from al-Shabab militants.

* In September 2014, al-Shabab leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane known as Abu-subayr was killed in U.S drone strike.

[box style=”rounded”]Puntland Mirror’s Editors has contributed this summary about al-Shabab.[/box]