The Taliban claimed that the raid was in response to the film, Innocence of Muslims, and have also stated that Prince Harry, who was stationed at the base at the time, was the target of the attack.

[3] The raid was a complex and coordinated assault by 15 Taliban fighters,[4] wearing ACU pattern camouflage and carrying several types of small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and explosive charges.

The attack was initiated on the eastern side of Camp Bastion near the US Marine's aircraft hangars at 22:00 local time (17:30 GMT).

The group that attacked the aircraft attached the explosive charges to several jets, then fired the rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at others.

[7] The RAF troops, who were located on the opposite side of the main runway, arrived at the scene approximately 12 minutes after the attack began.

[8] Marines from VMM-161 killed four of the five Taliban with small arms fire as they tried to advance down the flight line area and captured one insurgent who sustained critical injuries.

[9] The final group of five insurgents was detected near the flight line hours later and were killed by gunfire from the RAF quick reaction force and orbiting helicopters[10] During the early portion of the fighting, the VMA-211 squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Raible, 40, was killed when an anti-personnel rocket propelled grenade struck the side of the building that housed the squadron's work spaces.

Killed nearby was USMC mechanic Sergeant Bradley Atwell, 27, while taking cover behind ground support equipment on the flight line.

[3] The Taliban claimed that the raid was in response to the film Innocence of Muslims, and have also stated that Prince Harry, who was stationed at the base at the time, was the target of the attack.

[22] The Marine Corps stated Gurganus "bore final accountability for the lives and equipment under his charge," and he "made an error in judgment when conducting his risk assessment of the enemy's capabilities and intentions."

According to NBC News, a senior U.S. defense official remarked that if Gurganus was not a general he would have faced a court martial, which would have prevented retirement with full benefits.