"A U.S. Army operated MQ-1C crashed in southern Somalia at approximately 12:40 PM local on Nov. 5,” US Africa command, known as AFRICOM said in a statement. 

"An investigation is ongoing, although the crash does not appear to be the result of any attempt to shoot down the aircraft.” 

The U.S. military has not disclosed the exact location of the drone crash, but Somali officials have reported that the aircraft went down near the town of Farsoley in the Lower Shabelle region, an area controlled by the militant group Al-Shabaab. 

Local media outlets reported this week that a Turkish drone had crashed in the same area, but both the Turkish and Somali governments have not substantiated the claim. With the U.S. military confirming the incident, it now appears the initial reports of a Turkish drone crash were inaccurate, likely based on unverified information. Journalists, unable to access Al-Shabaab-controlled regions, may have been unable to obtain complete details of the crash. 

By Dahir Alasow