Turkish drones have joined an ongoing military offensive against the al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabab militants, Somalia has confirmed.
According to Somalia’s Interior Minister Ahmed Mo’alim Fiqi, the Turkish-owned surveillance and combat drones are to provide air support for the Somali army.
Recently, the Somali government forces and armed clans in central Hiiraan and Galgudud regions dislodged al-Shabab from some areas.
The state TV reported that the army had expanded the offensive against al-Shabab in central Somalia to parts of the south-western Gedo region, where the militants hold some territory.
Turkey is among the countries that have been supporting the Somali government.
Mogadishu hosts Turkey’s largest overseas military base, which opened in 2017, where thousands of Somali soldiers have been training.