A US military base has come under attack in Somalia from suicide attacks and gunfire, officials said.
Italian military forces in the area have also come under attack in the capital Mogadishu, with reports of damaged vehicles bearing the country's flag.
Italy's defence ministry said that a convoy had been hit by an explosion but no injuries were reported.
An "attack” was been reported at the Balidogle airstrip roughly 60 miles in land from Somalia's capital.
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.
"Two suicide car bombs from the Middle Shabelle region tried to attack Balidogle airport but they detonated outside the airport gate," Major Abdullahi Nur, a police officer, told Reuters.
Somali troops also receive training at the base, which recently had $12 million invested by the US for runway repairs.
There are also reports of a second attack on European Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu.
Donald Yamamoto, the U.S. Ambassdor to Somalia said: "The security forces stopped this ultimately failed attack due to their alertness and swift response, not allowing the attackers to breach the outer defensive perimeters of the base.
"We are thankful that there were no Somalian National Army causalities between the multiple attacks.
"This attack yet again demonstrates al-Shabaab violently opposes progress towards peace and prosperity in Somalia.
"The United States affirms our strong commitment to the people and government of Somalia and to assist collective efforts to degrade terror groups and build a stronger and prosperous Somalia that offers a brighter future for its people.
Al Shabaab “is fighting to topple Somalia’s central government which is defended by the African Union (AU)-mandated peacekeepers”, according to Reuters.
A statement from Al Shabaab said: "In the early hours of Monday morning, an elite unit of soldiers from Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen's Martyrdom Brigade launched a daring raid on the U.S. military base.
"After breaching the perimeters of the heavily fortified base, the mujahideen (holy warriors) stormed the military complex, engaging the crusaders in an intense firefight."
The claims from the group have not been confirmed.
In October last year, two Somali locals were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a European Union convoy in Mogadishu.
