Kabul, Afghanistan (AP) U.S. troops have reinforced a remote military outpost in Afghanistan after well-armed militants got inside and killed nine American soldiers. Fifteen other soldiers were wounded.

U.S. officials say yesterday's assault on the outpost near the Pakistani border shows that the militants have become more sophisticated and better coordinated than they were just a year ago.

A NATO official says an attack force of several hundred tried to overrun the small base that was built only a few days ago.

The attackers fired machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from homes and a mosque near the base.

Another official says more than 40 of the insurgents were killed in the fighting.