13 people, including 8 militants, killed in Jalalabad airport attack (video)

JALALABAD (PAN): Afghan security forces gunned down eight militants before they approached their intended target in the eastern Nangarhar province, a ministry official said on Sunday. 

A Ministry of Interior statement said the armed insurgents, backed by two suicide bombers, launched a pre-dawn attack on the main airport but they were immediately repelled by Afghan security forces.

Two attackers’ detonated two explosives-packed vehicles outside the airport entrance at about 6 am as several others tried to break into the heavily-fortified base and six other started to fire with light and heavy weapons blindly.

According to the ministry, six of the militants who attacked the Afghan forces were killed on the spot but authorities did not reveal any details on Afghan forces casualties.

Police spokesman Hazrat Hussein confirmed death of nine militants, three airport security guards and two civilians. He also acknowledged that 14 airport security guards and four civilians were wounded in the morning attack.

During the clash the NATO-led forces conducted air strikes that killed several fighters, he added.

In a telephone interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. He said their fighters killed 18 NATO troops and injured 40 others, and damaged three helicopters. 

He claimed seven Taliban fighters died in the clash.PAJHWOK/Babrak Amirzada