Afghan militants attack US base

Militants in Afghanistan have launched an assault against the US-run Bagram air north of Kabul using rockets, small arms and grenades.

According to a US statement, five service members were wounded during the pre-dawn assault on Wednesday against the US airbase, 50 kilometers north of Kabul.

The statement did not mention the nationalities of the injured soldiers, but said that seven insurgents have been killed so far during the “ongoing attack” on Bagram.

AP news agency quoted Capt. Chris Sukach, a US spokeswoman at Bagram, as saying that a “noncritical building” had been hit in the attack.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying 20 militants were involved.

Bagram is one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan, home to mainly US troops.