Al-shabab terrorists attack military base used by US in Kenya

A Kenyan airfield used by US forces has been attacked in pre-dawn raid by the alshabab terrorist group which destroyed US aircraft and vehicles.

Kenyan authorities said at least four attackers were killed, although it was not clear whether any US or Kenyan forces were killed.

A US Africa Command statement said “an accountability of personnel assessment is underway”andthemandabay airfield was “still in the process of being fully secured”.

The al-qaida-linked alshabab, based in neighbouring Somalia, claimed responsibility and said that “intense” combat with US forces continued. The US statement called the al-shabab claims exaggerated and said US and Kenyan forces repelled the attack.

It is the first known alshabab attack against US forces in Kenya, a key base for fighting one of the world’s most resilient terrorist organisations.

A plume of black smoke rose above the base. Residents said a car bomb had exploded early in the morning. An internal Kenyan police report said two aircraft were destroyed along with two helicopters and multiple vehicles.

The report said explosions were heard at around 5:30am from the direction of the airstrip.

The US military said only that “initial reports reflect damage to infrastructure and equipment.” The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the airstrip was closed for all operations.

Al-shabab’s statement included photos of blazing aircraft it claimed were from the attack.

The military’s Camp Simba in Lamu county, established more than a decade ago, has under 100 US personnel who train and give counterterror support to east African partners, according to the military.

Al-shabab has launched a number of attacks inside Kenya, including against civilian targets such as buses, schools and shopping malls. The group has been the target of a growing number of US airstrikes inside Somalia during President Donald Trump’s administration.

The latest attack comes just over a week after an al-shabab lorry bomb in Somalia’s capital killed at least 79 people and US airstrikes killed seven alshabab fighters in response.

This attack marks a significant escalation of al-shabab’s campaign of attacks inside Kenya and comes days after a US airstrike killed Iran’s top military commander, leading to Iran vowing retaliation.

Al-shabab is a Sunni Muslim group, however, and there is no sign of links to Shia Iran or proxies.

“No, this attack was no way related to that incident” in the Middle East, an al-shabab spokesman said, on condition of anonymity.