U.S. Troops Reinforce Base After Deadly Assault

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. troops have reinforced a remote military outpost in Afghanistan after well-armed militants got inside and killed nine American soldiers. Fifteen other soldiers were wounded.

U.S. officials say the weekend assault on the outpost near the Pakistani border shows that the militants have become more sophisticated and better coordinated than they were just a year ago.

A NATO official says an attack force of several hundred tried to overrun the small base that was built only a few days ago. The attackers fired machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from homes and a mosque near the base.

The insurgent force attacked from multiple sides and breached the outer walls of the small, remote outpost. One official who doesn’t want to be identified by name says an unknown number of militants got inside the base and that’s the reason for the high number of casualties.

U.S. troops pushed back against the invaders and attack helicopters swooped in. More than 40 insurgents died in the fighting.