1 US service member, 2 DOD contractors killed in terror attack on US base in Kenya originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

One U.S. soldier and two American Department of Defense contractors were killed in a terror attack on a military base in Kenya that houses some U.S. military personnel. The Somali terror group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack that Kenyan authorities said had been repelled with four militants killed in the fighting.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our teammates who lost their lives today," U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "As we honor their sacrifice, let's also harden our resolve. Alongside our African and international partners, we will pursue those responsible for this attack and al-Shabaab who seeks to harm Americans and U.S. interests."

Two DOD employees were also wounded in the attack. They were listed in stable condition and were being evacuated, according to the Sunday statement from U.S. Africa Command.

PHOTO: U.S. Army Spc. Henry J. Mayfield Jr., 23, from Evergreen Park, Ill., was killed on Jan. 5, 2020, during an attack in Manda Bay, Kenya. (U.S. Army) More

The Pentagon on Monday identified the U.S. service member killed as Army Spc. Henry Mayfield Jr., 23, of Evergreen Park, Illinois. He was an air traffic services mechanic.

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According to the news release on Sunday, the attack on the compound involved indirect and small-arms fire. There was an initial penetration of the perimeter, but Kenya Defense Forces and U.S. Africa Command repelled the al-Shabaab attack.

Kenya Defense Forces said the attempt was made at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time to breach security at Manda Air Strip and that it had successfully been stopped and the air strip was safe.

This morning at around 5:30 am an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip. The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorists bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe.https://t.co/CXoAWBgXC4 — Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) January 5, 2020

In addition to the casualties, six contractor-operated civilian aircraft were reportedly damaged to some degree, the U.S. Africa Command news release said.

The Kenyan military base has housed U.S. military personnel for years. It is unclear how many American personnel are stationed at the base that has reportedly been a site for U.S. special operations forces operating in Somalia.

"We remain committed to preventing al-Shabaab from maintaining a safe haven to plan deadly attacks against the U.S. homeland, East African and international partners," Townsend said in the Sunday afternoon news release.

PHOTO: The al-Shabab extremist group said Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, that it has attacked the Camp Simba military base used by U.S. and Kenyan troops in coastal Kenya. (AP) More

Earlier, al-Shabab had said in a statement that some of its fighters had launched "a daring dawn raid on a U.S. naval base known as 'Camp Simba' in Lamu County, Kenya."

The al-Qaeda affiliate claimed that their fighters had taken control of a portion of the base, a claim that could not be verified.

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Last week, al-Shabab carried out a car bomb attack in the heart of Mogadishu that killed at least 80 civilians.

PHOTO: In this photo taken Aug. 26, 2019 and released by the U.S. Air Force, A C-130J Super Hercules approaches for landing at Camp Simba, Manda Bay, Kenya. The al-Shabab extremist group said Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 that it has attacked the military base. (Staff Sgt. Devin Boyer/AP) More

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