Taliban attack Nato bases in Afghanistan's Khost area

[ignacioc91]

28 August 2010 Last updated at 12:14 GMT Taliban attack Nato bases in Afghanistan's Khost area

 

Major Patrick Sheba said the Taliban insurgents were "dressed in US military uniforms"

 

Taliban insurgents wearing US military uniforms have attacked two coalition bases in eastern Afghanistan, Nato forces say.

 

Coalition forces repelled both attacks, killing 24 militants, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said.

 

There were no coalition casualties in the fighting, in Khost province, south-east of Kabul, Isaf said.

 

The Taliban said about 30 fighters were involved in the two separate assaults.

 

Five attackers were captured, Isaf said.

 

Fence breached The attacks on Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province and nearby Camp Chapman began at about 0400 (2330 GMT).

 

Two of the insurgents managed to breach the fence at Forward Operating Base Salerno and enter the compound, but were killed, a statement from Isaf said.

 

"Coalition forces had the two insurgents under surveillance and when they cut the fence a quick reaction force was dispatched to the location where they were killed immediately," the statement said.

 

According to the statement, its troops called in helicopters to assist in repelling the attacks.

 

Three people, said to be involved in the attack but fleeing in a vehicle, were killed by an airstrike, the statement added.

 

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says that elaborate attacks on forward operating bases are not unusual and that Taliban insurgents are increasingly using this more sophisticated guerrilla-style attack.

 

Camp Chapman was the scene of a major attack in December, when a suicide bomber entered the base and killed seven CIA employees.

 

That was the most deadly attack on US intelligence officials since the US embassy in Beirut was bombed in 1983.

 

Commander captured

 

Major Wazir Pacha, an officer at the provincial police headquarters told the Associated Press news agency that the militants used rifles, heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in Saturday's attack.

 

He also said that police recovered a truck laden with explosives, which may have been intended for use in a suicide bombing, and another containing ammunition, after the two vehicles became stuck in deep mud.

 

Local police chief Adbul Hakim Ishaqzai told AFP news agency the militants had pulled back after a period of fighting and had occupied a school.

 

Earlier this week Isaf announced that its forces had captured a senior commander of the local Taliban network in Khost - though it is not clear whether the arrest is connected to the latest attacks.

 

Meanwhile, across the border Pakistani security officials say four Taliban militants have been killed in a suspected US missile attack.

 

The missiles hit vehicles being driven by militants in the Kurram tribal area, which is not regularly targeted by US drones.

 

FROM BBCNEWS, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11118459

 

 

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[+Dave]

Losers, even in US uniforms, still couldn't get it together.

[dsawan]

Yeah but the fact they can do this means they ae still a threat.

[+daddyairplanes]

unfortuneatly these ones are not dumb at all just very under-resourced. when you have Strykers, Apaches, Predator and Vipers you don't have to think of tricks like dry ice in the mortar tube and trying to look like the other guy. i worry about how many vehicles are missin from the convoys gettin hit in pakistan. a convoy would be much more convincing than a foot patrol as deceptive tactics go.

 

 

[+Ruggbutt]

So now that they're wearing uniforms (even if it's our uniforms) they good to go for Gitmo, right?

[Lexx_Luthor]

Dave::

Losers, even in US uniforms, still couldn't get it together.

 

lololololololol made my day

 

Thanks for that. :good:

[+Dave]

Dave::

 

lololololololol made my day

 

Thanks for that. :good:

 

I was wondering if anyone was going to get that.

[+Gepard]

So now that they're wearing uniforms (even if it's our uniforms) they good to go for Gitmo, right?

 

No. Wearing the uniform of the enemy is a violation of the land war order of Den Haag, what means, that they have no rights of POW if captured. Usually you can shot them after capturing. No Gitmo, only a bullit. Saves costs.

 

On the other hand it is a dangerous development. The Taliban attempt to attack the allied bases. What means, that they have the military initiative. They dictates the rules and our troops only reacts. It becomes ugly.

[Murphy'S]

. What means, that they have the military initiative. They dictates the rules and our troops only reacts. It becomes ugly.

 

 

it's always the case in any asymetrical conflict

 

since the begining of times

[+hgbn]

It just shows that our troops are prepared to counter the insurgents. No matter how they dress. Only the insurgents was hurt... So good work from our troops