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| Afghanistan |
| U.S., Afghan Forces Battle Insurgents |
| 2003-08-26 |
| EFL U.S. and Afghan forces clashed with suspected Taliban in the mountains of southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, a day after fighter jets bombarded a camp and killed at least 14 rebels, Afghan officials said. American jets again pounded insurgents Tuesday in Zabul province, said Khalil Hotak, chief of the provincial intelligence service. It was not possible to confirm whether any Taliban were killed, he said. Juma Khan, the police chief of Dai Chupan district where the fighting took place in a mountain pass, said the rebels were putting up resistance, firing back with mortars and heavy machine guns. That’s right, boys, hold that pass, just don’t look up. On Monday, U.S. jets destroyed a Taliban mountain hideout in the same district in the deadliest air assault since rebels launched a series of strikes against Afghan government targets in recent weeks. Hotak said the Taliban were operating with al-Qaida and loyalists of renegade rebel commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He didn’t offer evidence for his claim, but he said there were intelligence reports of Pakistanis and Middle Eastern fighters among the Taliban who escaped the bombardment of the camp on Monday. He did not say how he knew this. "I can say no more" Col. Rodney Davis, spokesman for the U.S. military at coalition headquarters at Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, said late Monday that 14 "enemy" fighters were killed in two clashes, one of which involved air strikes. "The number (killed) may be higher, and we are still waiting for additional battle damage assessment," he told a news briefing Tuesday. Putting the "pieces" together takes time. There were no reported casualties among U.S.-led coalition troops, Davis said. He said coalition forces were continuing to operate in the southeastern provinces of Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan. Another Afghan government spokesman, Khalid Pashtun of Kandahar, said two Taliban were captured in Monday’s operation. The captured men said the Taliban offensive in the Dai Chupan district where the suspected hideout was located was being led by Mullah Kahar and Mullah Abdul Hakim. Hotak said the suspected camp, which was destroyed, comprised an eight-room building, four tents and other cave shelters. Now available for rent. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Good. We will keep the heat on Hek. If we cannot pursue him, we can attrit his forces and discredit his statements and cause. Sure would like to make him a grease spot on the L&N, though.........damn.... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-26 6:54:49 PM |
| #1 Hek's not having such a good year, is he? Hope it gets worse...dramatically btw: kudos for another slip in of Fred's Famous™: "I can say no more" I'm jealous |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-26 6:44:35 PM |