A three hour gunfight between insurgents and Pakistani soldiers in Pakistan’s violent tribal region left 8 soldiers dead and 12 others wounded. Intelligence officials say the fight broke out Thursday when about 100 insurgents armed with machine guns and rockets stormed a security checkpoint in Marobi, a town in South Waziristan. About 50 Pakistan were at the checkpoint at the time of the attack.
Although a Taliban spokesman claimed none of their attackers were killed, local officials say 10 militants have been confirmed dead and 5 others wounded.
The Pakistan Taliban has increased attacks on government and military officials to avenge the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad in early May by a team of United States Navy SEALs.
South Waziristan and North Waziristan is home to many insurgent camps and training compounds. Suspected U.S. drone strikes are often carried out in the area. Twenty-three militants were killed Wednesday when missiles apparently fired from a drone hit a training camp in North Waziristan. The attack followed three suspected drone strikes on Monday in which 18 militants were killed in South Waziristan.
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