Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Afghan Taliban Suicide Bombers Attack US Base Near Pakistan Border

December 18, 2013

Afghan Taliban attacks U.S. base near Pakistan border

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2013 (Xinhua) --

The Afghan Taliban fighters early Wednesday morning launched a complex attack on a U.S. forces' base in eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, the second attack on the same base in two months, sources said.

"Militants numbered four or five armed with suicide jackets, RPG (rocket propelled grenade) and heavily weapons raided a coalition base in bordering town of Torkham in border area with Pakistan at early Wednesday morning," the source said.

Suicide bombers strike US Afghan base

RT, December 18, 2013, 05:47

The Taliban has attacked a US military base in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan. The base, located near the town of Torkham, was targeted by suicide bombers, RPG and machine gun fire, local media reports.

The attack was first reported by the city’s chief of police, Noor Akbar, who said the insurgents struck at 5am local time.

Three suicide bombers first blew up a car at the gate of the parking lot ofthe NATO outpost near the Torkahm border crossing, a key supply route for the alliance. The explosion set off a fire that destroyed several of the privately-owned tankers. The attackers then stormed into the compound and a gun battle ensued.

"During the three-hour fight with security forces, one police was killed, five wounded. Several vehicles were torched," Nangarhar provincial spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai told AFP.

"All attackers, who had military uniforms on, were killed."

The Taliban publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a statement to local media, which contained a different version of events, claiming that dozens of foreign troops, as well as “puppets” were killed. The latter is the nickname the Taliban give to NATO-trained local forces.

This is the second attack on the Torkham ISAF forward operating base in the last two months. It comes three days after another suicide bombing incident, in which the National Directorate of Security was targeted in the same town, injuring three of its soldiers.