Taliban attack U.S. military base in southern Afghanistan, killing 1

Taliban attack U.S. military base in southern Afghanistan, killing 1

2011-10-28 06:16:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A group of Taliban gunmen attacked a U.S. military base in southern Afghanistan on Thursday afternoon, killing one person and wounding eight others, officials said.

The attack began at around 2.30 p.m. local time when a group of insurgents fired multiple rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire from a single compound across from Camp Nathan Smith, which is located in Kandahar Province. No attempts were made to enter the camp.

In response to the attack, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) returned fire while Afghan police attempted to clear the compound from where the insurgents were attacking. During this attempt, two car bombs exploded, causing no casualties.

The U.S. military said Afghan police discovered the building had been rigged with explosives, prompting ISAF forces to use precision munitions to reduce the threat. "[Afghan police] determined that a ground clearance would have put too many [Afghan police] and civilians at risk," the U.S. military said.

As a result of the attack, which continued for several hours, one Afghan interpreter and all attackers were killed while eight others were injured. Among those injured were two Afghan security guards, one American civilian contractor and five ISAF service members.

"The presence of the [car bombs] indicate the insurgents had a plan they could not execute," said U.S. Army Col. John Kolasheski. "Because of the quick response by [Afghan police] and ISAF, the enemy could only fire at the camp. We expected the Taliban would plan such an attack before the winter season set in. It has proven to be less than effective."

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack, saying four of its fighters were involved. "It is said that the enemy troops are hurrying away the casualties from the scene of the powerful blasts which shook the whole city," he said, although the group usually exaggerates their reports. "Officials from the area add that they are in contact with the martyrdom seeking Mujahideen (Taliban fighters), saying that their moral is very high and that they have beaten back several attempts of the enemy who tried to rush their positions."

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