Two U.S. servicemen have been killed in Afghanistan in a gun battle with suspected Taleban fighters near the Pakistani border.
General Richard Myers, Chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the gun battle took place near a rocket launch site previously used by Taleban forces to attack a U.S. military outpost near the Pakistan border in Paktika province.
Speaking at the Pentagon, General Myers says about 20 suspected Taleban fighters opened fire on a coalition patrol. In the gun battle that followed, at least three of the enemy were killed. But General Myers says there were coalition casualties. "The resulting firefight cost the lives of two U.S. servicemen," he said. "Additionally, some U.S. and Afghan soldiers were wounded."
A U.S. led quick reaction force responded to the attack and air support was called in. But military officials say the Taleban force escaped across the border into Pakistan.
