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Taliban strikes main US base in Afghanistan

Suicide bombers have struck the main US military base in Afghanistan, killing two people and injuring scores in a major attack that could scupper plans to revive peace talks.

Dec 12, 2019, updated Dec 12, 2019
Photo: EPA/Hedayatullah Amid

Photo: EPA/Hedayatullah Amid

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, which struck the Bagram air base north of Kabul.

“First, a heavy-duty Mazda vehicle struck the wall of the American base,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

“Later several mujahideen equipped with light and heavy weapons were able to attack the American occupiers.”

The US-led military coalition said the attack was “quickly contained and repelled”.

Taliban fighters who unsuccessfully tried to breach the airfield were killed in a series of airstrikes, the Resolute Support mission said in a statement.

Two civilians were killed and more than 70 injured during the attack, the Ministry of the Interior said.

Five servicemen from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, which is part of the coalition, were among those injured, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement.

The majority of casualties were Afghan.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the attack that he said wounded at least five coalition troops.

A spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan province, which includes the Bagram district, said there was a 30-minute clash between the attackers and foreign forces.

Two attackers detonated vehicles laden with explosives at the southern entrance to the base, while five more opened fire.

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Some of the fighters barricaded themselves inside a medical facility they had attacked, the coalition of foreign forces in Afghanistan said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban in September after an attack by the group killed an American soldier.

The Taliban controls more territory than at any point since being ousted from power by Afghan foes with US air support in 2001.

-AAP

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