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Mohamud last month urged citizens to stay away from areas controlled by Al-Shabaab as government forces supported by local clan militias launched offensives in Hiraan.

The Turkish-trained soldiers will join their colleagues in the army carrying out the operations in the areas near Moqokori, El-Ali, and other towns, where Al-Shabaab is reportedly regrouping for a counterattack.

The Commander of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defence, MPs, and officials at the Federal and Regional levels are part of the offensive in HirShabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest state.

The attack in Beledweyne came after the Somali government unleashed a war on Al-Shabaab last month, which saw the liberation of dozens of villages in the Hiran region from the group.

Somalia has made significant advances in the Al-Shabaab-held regions, including Hiran and Galgadud after what the government called an “all-out war” supported by the residents to defeat Al-Shabaab.

The ministry noted that the operation involving foreign troops took place in the main Al-Shabaab hideout. Nadir has been fighting in Somalia for extremist groups since 2006.

At least 20 people are confirmed dead and dozens wounded in the Beledweyne attack which becomes the second deadliest Al-Shabaab attack since the election of Mohamud in May of this year.

A third car bomb blast occurred at the city’s main hospital while busy receiving the victims of the first explosions and it caused fatalities and injuries, according to the medics.

The city was hit by the deadly attack amid an ongoing military operation in the Hiran region, where the country armed with the support of local residents was making territorial gains.

The situation is now tense with ambulances reaching the scene to transport the wounded and the dead to the city's main hospital. The details of the casualties are yet to be established.

If confirmed, it will be a blow to Al-Shabaab as the group lost key ground to Somali troops in the ongoing military operation. US military is providing air support to the partners on the ground.

Somaliland seems sliding into a conflict as the main opposition parties could stage violent protests in the coming days with the international community remaining silent on the escalating political tension.