Car bomber hits US military base in Somalia

A suicide car bomb attack by Islamic extremist rebels targeted a U.S. military base in southern Somalia on Monday, officials said.

The bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives at the gate of the Belidogle Military Airfield complex, U.S. Africa Command said in a statement.

U.S. Africa Command said no military personnel were injured in the attack, adding that 10 terrorists were killed.

Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabaab, reportedly claimed they carried out the attack. 

“This attack, though ineffective, demonstrates the direct threat al-Shabaab poses to Americans, our allies, and interests in the region,” said Maj. Gen. William Gayler, U.S. Africa Command director of operations, said in a statement. “Incidents like this will not compromise the pressure being placed on this terrorist network by the Federal Government of Somalia and international partners.”

{mosads}The  U.S. airbase houses U.S. and Somali forces, The Associated Press noted, adding that the Pentagon uses the base to launch drones against al-Shabaab targets and to train Somali troops.

The news service also reported that another attack targeted Italian peacekeepers at a base in Mogadishu. 

–This developing report was updated at 2:54 p.m.