Taliban militants attack airport in E. Afghanistan
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Afghan National Army (ANA) and NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) repelled a Taliban attack on airport in eastern Nangarhar province Saturday and killed eight attackers, ISAF said in a statement released here.
"Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Forces repelled an insurgent attack on an ISAF forward operating base in Behsud district, Nangarhar province Saturday," the statement added.
The forward operating base received small arms fire from an unknown number of insurgents and after gaining positive identification of insurgent fighting positions, an ANA and ISAF quick reaction force was sent to the area, it stated.
"According to initial reports, eight insurgents were killed by the combined force. One was wearing a suicide vest," the statement added.
Initial reports indicate no ANA or ISAF service members were killed, the statement further said.
At the same time, spokesman for Nangarhar provincial administration Ahmad Zia Abdulzai in talks with Xinhua confirmed that at least six attackers were killed.
"The security forces repelled the attack and army commandos and police in collaboration with NATO-led force launched a search operation after militants stormed a checkpoint of airport in Jalalabad this morning at around 5 a.m. local time and so far six attackers have killed," Abdulzai told Xinhua.
He also added that security forces have been continuing their search operation to kill or capture any armed militants possibly entered the airport or adjoining areas.
Meantime, a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, in talks with media via telephone from unknown location claimed of responsibility and said that 14 suicide attackers targeted Jalalabad airport in Nangarhar province Saturday morning and inflicting casualties to Afghan and foreign troops there, a claim rejected by Abdulzai as mere propaganda.
