Somalia's Interior Minister Ahmed Mo'alim Fiqi told privately-owned Universal Somali TV that the Turkish-owned surveillance and combat drones provided air support for the Somali army.

In recent weeks the Somali government forces and armed clans in central Hiiraan and Galgudud regions have 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.