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28 oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces attacked

From Nasir Habib, For CNN
Trucks carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan burn Saturday after an attack by militants in the remote Mitri area.
Trucks carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan burn Saturday after an attack by militants in the remote Mitri area.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The attack comes after a series of recent strikes on vehicles carrying oil for NATO
  • Two people are injured
  • The Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for several previous attacks
RELATED TOPICS
  • Pakistan

(CNN) -- Dozens of oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces caught fire Saturday after gunmen attacked in Pakistan's western Baluchistan province, local police said.

Unknown assailants attacked 28 vehicles with a machine gun and rockets, said Meeran Bukhsh, a police official in the Bolan district.

Two people were injured, police said.

The attack is the latest in a series of strikes against vehicles in Pakistan carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan. The convoys are generally operated by contracted Pakistani firms, using Pakistani trucks and drivers.

At least six attacks have been carried out since October 1, leaving at least seven people dead.

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for several of the attacks, including one on Wednesday that damaged 54 oil tankers.

Ihsan Ullah Ihsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said Wednesday's attack was carried out by a special squad created especially to attack American assets in Pakistan as a response to the increase in suspected U.S. drone strikes.

"We are satisfied by the performance of our special squad," Ihsan said this week.

CNN's Samson Desta contributed to this report.