Jihadists attack US military training base in Somalia

Jihadists have attacked a military base where US soldiers train commandos in Somalia, causing casualties, reports say.

An “ongoing attack” has been reported at the Belidogle airstrip near Mogadishu.

Local residents have reported heavy blasts and gunfire.

Yusuf Abdourahman, a security official with the Lower Shabelle regional administration, confirmed that a car filled with explosives was detonated at the gates of the air base.

The base is used for launching drones to attack the al-Shabaab militants.

Military officials say the jihadists have been pushed back.

Al-Shabab launched a "daring raid on the US military base", the group said in a statement.

"After breaching the perimeters of the heavily fortified base, the mujahideen [holy warriors] stormed the military complex, engaging the crusaders in an intense firefight."

Separately, an Italian military convoy was hit by an explosion in the capital Mogadishu, Italy's defence ministry said. No casualties have as yet been reported in this attack.