Islamic militants attack US military base and EU patrol in Somalia

Al-Shabab extremists on Monday staged an attack on a US military base in Somalia, which is used to launch drone strikes. An Italian military convoy in the Somali capital was also attacked on Monday.

Italy’s defence ministry said in a statement that an Italian military convoy had been hit by an explosion. No injuries had been reported so far, the defence ministry said.

The attack was on two military vehicles that were returning to base after a training exercise, sources said.

A Somali official told the Associated Press that a suicide car bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives at the gate of a military airstrip which is a base for U.S. and Somali forces.

Yusuf Abdourahman, a security official with the Lower Shabelle regional administration, told the news agency that a burst of gunfire could be heard across the base after bombing.

The terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the report said.

The U.S. military uses Belidogle airstrip in the Lower Shabelle region as a base where it launches drones that attack al-Shabab and trains Somali troops.

Via Fox News/ Rai News