The U.S. military said on Monday that U.S. and partnered forces had killed 10 militants and destroyed a vehicle after Somali insurgents mounted an ambitious attack on a base where U.S. special forces train Somali commandos. 

"In response to this attack and in self-defense, U.S Africa Command conducted two airstrikes and used small arms fire targeting al-Shabaab terrorists," a U.S. military statement said.

It said that 10 terrorists were killed and one vehicle involved in the attack was destroyed. 

Earlier in the day, a U.S. military base and an Italian military convoy were hit by separate attacks in the Somali town of Baledogle, but there has been no report of casualties.

A second attack involved a bomb explosion followed by gun fire at a base operated by U.S. special forces.

The Baledogle base is where U.S. special forces train Somali commandos and from where many drone operations are launched.

Somali police said that two car bombs targeted the base, which houses Somali special forces, U.S. special forces and Ugandan peacekeeping troops.

The al Qaeda-linked insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Somalia has been dogged by violence for decades, perpetrated by extremist Islamist groups that want to overthrow the government.

Various regional and international troops are in the Horn of African country to provide security. These troops also offer training to local Somali forces.