13 Taliban militants dead after attack on air base in Pakistan

Early Friday, Taliban militants tried to force their way into the Badaber air base in Peshawar, Pakistan, a military spokesman said.

On Twitter, Major Gen. Asim Bajwa said the militants attacked a guard post and attempted to get onto the base. At least 13 attackers have been killed and 10 soldiers injured, and the military is "searching for hidden terrorists." A source asking to remain anonymous told Reuters the attackers opened fire on security guards and "were wearing explosives-laden jackets and were armed with hand-propelled grenades, mortars, AK-47 rifles." Taliban spokesman Muhammad Khorasani "proudly" claimed responsibility on behalf of the group, telling Reuters, "This base is being used by fighter jets for bombing us."

UPDATE: Later Friday, Pakistan's military said that the Taliban fighters had managed to infiltrate a mosque inside the air base and gunned down 16 people while they were praying. Bajwa also said that a Pakistani army captain had been killed while repelling the assault.

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