NATO abandons attacked Afghan outpost

WANAT, Afghanistan, July 16 (UPI) -- NATO-led forces say they have abandoned an Afghanistan military outpost that Taliban insurgents overran this week, killing nine U.S. soldiers.

In announcing the move, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force told CNN that ISAF troops and Afghan forces would nevertheless "continue to perform regular patrols near the village of Wanat."

In Sunday's incident in eastern Afghanistan, up to 200 Taliban insurgents mounted an attack on a temporary military observation post, killing nine U.S. soldiers and wounding 15, while 100 of the insurgents were either killed or wounded. It marked the most fatalities in an attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan in three years, CNN said.

"The citizens in Wanat and northern Kunar province can be assured that ISAF and ANSF are going to continue with a strong presence in the area,'" spokesman Capt. Mike Finney told the broadcaster.