US reinforce base in Afghanistan after 9 US soldiers killed by Islamic Militants

by Santosh Kumar Agarwal    July 14, 2008

Islamic militants attacked a remote US outpost in Afghanistan near Pakistan boarder killing 9 US soldiers on 13^th July, in a deadliest attack in three years as per associated press release. The outpost was built only about three days ago.

The militants attacked the remote mountainous base in the Kunar Province at 4.30 AM with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars with insurgents firing from homes and a mosque. According to unconfirmed sources the attackers were hundreds in number. The outpost was reinforced with more US troops after the incident.

After the attack, US troops pulled back and helicopter gunship opened fire in retaliation, on the invading militants killing more than 40 insurgents. 15 US soldiers were also wounded.

“ We mourn the loss of life, but it was an example of NATO, US and Afghan Forces being aggressive in combating cross-boarder infiltration,” said US state department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The latest attack came in the wake of rising violence in Afghanistan where monthly death tolls of US and NATO forces were higher than military deaths in Iraq in May and June.

The latest attack has deepened doubt about US military ability to contain Islamic militancy in Afghanistan. Militant attacks are becoming more intense and better coordinated than a year ago as per an US official.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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