Taliban attack two NATO bases in eastern Afghanistan (2nd Roundup)

Aug 28, 2010, 11:59 GMT

Kabul - Taliban militants attacked two bases of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in eastern Afghanistan in predawn raids but were repelled with heavy losses Saturday.

Militants attacked the bases in Khost province with indirect and small arms fire, a NATO statement said, adding that ISAF troops repelled the attackers and killed at least 24 insurgents, while capturing several more.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno and nearby Camp Chapman, where seven agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been killed by a suicide bomber in December.

The combined forces killed approximately 15 insurgents in US military uniform at FOB Salerno and an additional six at FOB Chapman, five insurgent fighters were captured and are in ISAF custody, the alliance statement said.

Four ISAF troops were wounded in the gun battle, it said.

Seven suicide vests were seized, two recoilless rifles were destroyed, and a number of unexploded munitions were captured from the insurgent fighters.

'Coalition forces conducted a precision air strike on a truck occupied by three fighters after they attempted to attack Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province,' the statement added.

Mudasir, a Haqqani maker of roadside bombs, was killed in the strike along with two additional insurgents, it said.

Mudasir had direct ties to the insurgent group's senior leadership based in Pakistan and was a teacher at an Islamic school known to bring forth suicide bombers.

'The Haqqani network and their fellow insurgents have failed to cause significant damage or casualties on any of their attempted attacks on coalition bases over the last several months,' said Rafael Torres, a NATO spokesman.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that 20 suicide attackers targeted a US intelligence base in Khost city while eight others attacked a second NATO base in the city.

He also said that dozens of other insurgents attacked police checkpoints and battle was ongoing. He claimed 18 foreign soldiers were killed in these attacks.

'Two groups of insurgents with AK-47 (rifles) and rockets attacked foreign forces camps and police checkpoints in Khost city,' provincial police chief Abdul Hakim Ishaqzia said.

Forty-eight Taliban fighters were involved the attacks, he said, adding that the militants evaded capture. A search operation was launched by NATO and police.

Taliban insurgents have recently stepped up attacks against the 140,000 NATO and US forces currently stationed in Afghanistan.