Militants kill 2 in attack on Pakistani base

ISLAMABAD (AP) — At least half a dozen suicide bombers armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades attacked a major air force base in northern Pakistan before dawn Thursday, sparking a heavy battle that killed two security personnel and left parts of the base in flames, officials said.

The attack on the base in Kamra, located only about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Islamabad, was a brazen reminder of the threat posed by Islamist militants in Pakistan despite numerous military offensives against their sanctuaries along the Afghan border. The base hosts a variety of fighter jets, including F-16s, and also contains a large factory that makes aircraft and other weapons systems.