6 Harrier jets lost in Afghan base attack

Afghan insurgents destroyed six Harrier ground attack jets and damaged two in an assault on a base in Helmand province, coalition officials said Saturday. The destruction of the $25 million vertical-short takeoff aircraft occurred during a Friday night attack at Camp Bastion that also left two U.S. Marines dead and eight other coalition military personnel and one civilian wounded, the Department of Defense said in a release. International Security Assistance Force officials said insurgents organized into three teams and armed with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests penetrated the base's perimeter fence. Besides taking out the AV-8B Harrier jets, the insurgents destroyed three refueling stations were destroyed. Fourteen militants were killed. A 15th fighter was wounded and taken into custody.