US troops killed as many as up to 38 insurgents after calling in air strikes to repel a Taliban attack on their outpost in southeast Afghanistan, the NATO-led coalition said.
Five US troops were wounded in the attack when the base in Paktika province came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades, gunfire and mortars.
NATO-led forces were checking the area for more dead and wounded, he said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Islamist group had attacked the base, claiming that six police outposts had been overrun in the assault.
Meanwhile, two ISAF troops were killed in separate incidents in the south of the country, one in an insurgent attack and another in an improvised bomb explosion.
More than ten insurgents were killed in southern Helmand province after an attack on an ISAF patrol.
The patrol came under fire in the Reg-e Khan Neshin district and returned fire. Bomb-making equipment was found after the attack.
Several insurgents were killed and more wounded yesterday during combat after ISAF and Afghan forces were attacked while building a security checkpoint in Kapisa province, just north of Kabul.
Coalition forces called in air support and several insurgents were killed by ground and air fire during a battle lasting several hours.
