Taliban Fighters Assault NATO Bases In Afghanistan

Once again, Taliban fighters show a lemming-like mentality, suffering over 50% losses in 2 unsuccessful attacks on NATO bases in Afghanistan.

Taliban insurgents have attacked two coalition bases in eastern Afghanistan, Nato forces say.

Coalition forces repelled both attacks, killing 18 militants and capturing others, 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, including suicide bombers, were involved in the two separate assaults.

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

In a statement, Isaf said "insurgent forces attacked the installations with indirect and small arms fire".

According to Isaf, its troops called in helicopters to assist in repelling the attacks and that 13 militants, four of whom were wearing suicide bomber vests, were killed in the fighting.

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.

By: Shelldrake