Kenya's aviation authorities have closed indefinitely Manda airstrip following a dawn terror attack by al-Shabaab militants early Sunday. 

A U.S. military service member and two contractors were killed in the attack, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has also suspended all inbound and outbound flights to the airstrip located near the military base. 

Somalia's extremists attacked the military base in Lamu county of Kenya that is used by both forces of the United States and Kenya, as confirmed by the U.S.  

"U.S. Africa Command acknowledges there was an attack at Manda Bay Airfield," said a spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command in a statement. 

However, Kenyan army said it successfully repulsed the attack and instead killed five al-Shabaab terrorists in the fighting. 

"There was an attack but they have been repulsed," Lamu Commissioner Irungu Macharia said. 

A military source said the fighters were trying to access the base from the airstrip. 

Witnesses said gunfire and blasts were heard. 

The militant group that shared photos of the incident said it destroyed seven aircraft and three military vehicles in the attack.

However, security officials said only four aircraft belonging to both Kenya (one) and America (three) were destroyed during the incident, noting that several American vehicles at the airstrip were also destroyed. 

Security forces said they are holding five suspects in connection with the incident which analysts say is unrelated to tensions in the Middle East amid threats for revenge following the assassination of Iranian top military general Qasem Soleimani, who was taken down by U.S. forces in Iraq. 

(With inputs from Xinhua, AFP)

(Cover Image: Travellers are seen gathered at the Lamu jetty following an attack by Somalia's Islamist group al Shabaab on a military base in Manda, Lamu, Kenya, January 5, 2020. /Reuters Photo)