Arizona man killed in terrorist attack on Kenya military base

TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY, KSWT, AP) - An Arizona woman says her husband was one of the three Americans who were killed Sunday in a terror attack at a military base in Kenya. 

Tucson resident Hope Harrison tells Arizona's Family that pilot Dustin Harrsion was killed after Al-Shabab extremists overran a key military base used by U.S. counterterror forces in Kenya before dawn Sunday, destroying several U.S. aircraft and vehicles. 

Hope Harrison posted the news of her husband's death on Facebook.

"Received the heart wrenching call this evening that my beautiful husband was one of the casualties from the terrorist that took place early this morning." she wrote.

"My world is completely a nightmare at the moment. My worst fear is now my reality. The pain is unbearable. Please keep myself and our family in your prayers,"the post continued.

Al-Shabab, based in neighboring Somalia, claimed responsibility. In a statement Sunday evening proclaiming the 10-hour attack over, it asserted 17 U.S. “casualties," nine Kenyan soldiers killed and seven aircraft destroyed.

Kenya is a key base for fighting al-Shabab, one of the world's most resilient extremist organizations. A large plume of black smoke rose above the airfield Sunday and residents said a car bomb had exploded. Lamu County commissioner Irungu Macharia told The Associated Press that five suspects were arrested and were being interrogated.

Our affiliate WBBM in Chicago reported U.S Army Specialist Henry Mayfield Jr., 23, was also killed in the attack, citing the victim's family members. 

The identity of the third American victim is unknown at this time.