<p>Mogadishu: Al Shabaab militants captured a United Nations helicopter carrying two Somali men and several foreigners when it made an emergency landing in an area controlled by the Islamist group, a military official said on Wednesday.</p><p>The aircraft encountered a defect shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia, Major Hassan Ali told <em>Reuters</em>, before it landed near Hindhere village, bordering Galguduud region.</p><p>"Two Somali men and several foreigners were onboard. It was also carrying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galguduud region," he said.</p>.UN pauses aid flights in east DR Congo after helicopter attack.<p>A UN worker who wished to remain anonymous said the aircraft belonged to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and that the crew included five foreigners.</p><p>Two UN sources familiar with the matter told <em>Reuters</em> the aircraft carried nine passengers.</p><p><em>Reuters</em> could not independently verify the identities of those captured or their nationalities.</p><p>Al Shabaab, linked to al Qaeda, has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.</p><p>While the government has managed to ward off the militants from several territories since the mid-2010s, al Shabaab controls swathes of land in southern and central Somalia and has continued to target civilians and stage attacks on military establishments.</p><p>Spokespeople for the Somalia government and the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment</p>
<p>Mogadishu: Al Shabaab militants captured a United Nations helicopter carrying two Somali men and several foreigners when it made an emergency landing in an area controlled by the Islamist group, a military official said on Wednesday.</p><p>The aircraft encountered a defect shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia, Major Hassan Ali told <em>Reuters</em>, before it landed near Hindhere village, bordering Galguduud region.</p><p>"Two Somali men and several foreigners were onboard. It was also carrying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galguduud region," he said.</p>.UN pauses aid flights in east DR Congo after helicopter attack.<p>A UN worker who wished to remain anonymous said the aircraft belonged to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and that the crew included five foreigners.</p><p>Two UN sources familiar with the matter told <em>Reuters</em> the aircraft carried nine passengers.</p><p><em>Reuters</em> could not independently verify the identities of those captured or their nationalities.</p><p>Al Shabaab, linked to al Qaeda, has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.</p><p>While the government has managed to ward off the militants from several territories since the mid-2010s, al Shabaab controls swathes of land in southern and central Somalia and has continued to target civilians and stage attacks on military establishments.</p><p>Spokespeople for the Somalia government and the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment</p>