ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 9 (UPI) -- Insurgents attacked a Pakistani security post in South Waziristan Thursday, killing and wounding several soldiers and losing 12 of their own, officials said.
The Press Trust of India, quoting officials, reported a large number of pro-Taliban insurgents armed with rocket launchers and weapons killed at least eight soldiers in the pre-dawn attack on the check post. The attack led to a three-hour firefight with security forces.
CNN, quoting officials, reported about 100 insurgents launched the attack in the South Waziristan town of Maroobi, killing eight soldiers and wounding a dozen more.
Two Pakistani intelligence officials told CNN the insurgents fired rockets at the check post and later opened fire on about 50 soldiers. The soldiers killed as many as 12 insurgents.
Both North and South Waziristan are seen by U.S. intelligence experts as sanctuaries for insurgents who launch attacks on coalition forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
Militant violence has escalated sharply since May 2 when U.S. Navy SEALs killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden during a raid on his compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, northeast of Islamabad. The militants have vowed to avenge his death.
