Afghan authorities say hundreds of militants attacked two remote American outposts in northeastern Nuristan province bordering Pakistan, killing eight U.S. and two Afghan soldiers.
A U.S. military statement said the fierce gunbattle erupted early Saturday in Kamdesh district, after a heavily armed local tribal militia launched "a complex attack" from a local mosque and a nearby village.
A U.S. military spokesman, Colonel Wayne Shanks told VOA Sunday that the battle lasted most of the day. He said coalition forces used all the firepower at their disposal, including attack helicopters, to repel the enemy and inflict heavy casualties.
The spokesman said forces at the outpost held their ground and are patrolling the area to discourage further attacks.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it also took a large number of Afghan policemen into custody. Afghan officials said some of the militants came from Pakistan.