Taliban rebels attack US base in Afghanistan

KABUL - Insurgents stormed a US military base in eastern Afghanistan Saturday, a local government official said.

The rebels attacked a base in Jalalabad, provincial capital of Nangarhar province, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for the governor. There was no immediate report of troop casualties.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) claimed eight insurgents were killed in the fighting.

An Afghan security official who requested anonymity said seven Taliban fighters including two suicide bombers were killed in the attack.

“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,” NATO said.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid took responsibility for the attack, saying 14 fighters with suicide vests and assault weapons stormed the base. He claimed that dozens of foreign and Afghan troops were killed.