US-Afghan raid kills 70 rebels

However, a former Taliban governor of Khost dismissed the claims. 8216;8216;Two Taliban were martyred and eight wounded, while 10 Afghan soldiers were killed,8217;8217; Abdul Rauf Akhund said. An Afghan commander claimed that Arab and Chechen radio messages crackled back and forth during the battle, suggesting Al Qaeda fighters were involved.

The battle began when militants armed with rockets, mortars and machine-guns assailed a border post in Khost.

The US military said it sent a B-1 bomber, A-10 ground attack aircraft and helicopter gunships to their aid and flew in Afghan reinforcements, forcing the assailants to flee.

American spokesman Maj Rick Peat said pilots flying over the area reported seeing 40-50 bodies on the battlefield. Akhund, meanwhile, repeated Taliban threats to step up attacks as elections approach in October and April. 8216;8216;A large number of Taliban are entering several Afghan cities including Kabul and planning attacks on foreign occupying forces,8217;8217; he said.