Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a military base in Bannu, Pakistan, killing at least nine people and injuring 25. Security forces repelled the attackers. A Pakistani Taliban-affiliated group claimed responsibility.

Attackers carried out two suicide bombings to breach a wall at a military base in northwestern Pakistan, followed by an assault by other militants who stormed the compound. Security forces repelled the attackers in a violent clash that resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and left 25 others injured, according to officials and a local hospital.

A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Bannu, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, asserting that dozens of Pakistani security personnel were killed. However, the military did not immediately confirm any casualties. Bannu District Hospital reported at least nine fatalities.

Eyewitnesses described plumes of gray smoke rising into the sky, accompanied by ongoing gunfire after the twin explosions, police officer Zahid Khan said. Among the deceased were four children, according to hospital officials. The victims resided near the site of the blasts.

The attacks occurred after sunset, a time when many would have been breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Muhammad Noman, a spokesperson for Bannu District Hospital, stated that the evening explosions caused significant damage to homes and other structures. "The roofs and walls collapsed, which is why we are receiving casualties," he said.

According to a security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, the two suicide bombers detonated themselves near the perimeter wall of the military compound. "After the breach in the wall, five to six additional attackers attempted to enter the cantonment but were eliminated. Operations in the area are still ongoing," the official added.

Jaish Al-Fursan claimed responsibility for the bombing, marking the third terrorist attack in Pakistan since Ramadan began on Sunday. In a statement, the group asserted that the blasts were caused by explosive-laden vehicles.

Bannu has been targeted by terrorists multiple times in the past. Last November, a suicide car bomb attack killed 12 soldiers and wounded several others at a security checkpoint. In July, another attack saw a suicide bomber detonate an explosives-laden vehicle, followed by gunfire from other militants near the outer wall of a military facility.