Pakistani Army: We Lost 12 Soldiers in Armed Attacks

The Pakistani army announced today, Wednesday, that it lost 12 soldiers in two attacks carried out by armed militants, one of which targeted an army base. The army and security officials stated, "Nine soldiers were killed at the base that was attacked by Islamist militants using firearms, hand grenades, and rockets." In a separate incident, the army indicated that three other soldiers were killed in a shootout with heavily armed "terrorists" in the Swai area of Balochistan province. Two enemy militants were also killed during the exchange of gunfire. The army reported that all five militants who stormed the base in the early hours were killed when the army retaliated. Security officials told Reuters, "The militants initially threw hand grenades at a dining hall for the army in the base, then a gun battle ensued that lasted several hours." The army statement mentioned, "The soldiers on duty spotted the initial attempt of the terrorists to infiltrate the facility," adding that "during the gunfire exchange, they were cornered in a small area at the perimeter" of the base. The newly established Pakistani Jihad Movement claimed responsibility for the attack on the base, stating in a statement that it would release images and videos of its fighters who participated in the attack.