The U.S. military in Afghanistan says coalition forces have killed at least 12 insurgents in a clash in southeastern Khost province.
A military statement issued Thursday, said the fighting erupted late Tuesday, when insurgents fired rockets at a U.S. base at Salerno and troops retaliated with artillery and air strikes at rebel positions.
There were no coalition casualties.
The fighting is described as one of the bloodiest in recent months in Afghanistan, where thousands of U.S.-led troops are continuing to pursue Taleban and al-Qaida militants.
Taleban militants and loyalists have been waging a low-level insurgency since the fundamentalist Islamic regime was overthrown by U.S.-led forces in 2001.
But American commanders say the insurgency is unraveling in the face of military operations and an offer of reconciliation from the Afghan government.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
