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| Afghanistan |
| Fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan |
| 2003-08-29 |
| Afghan soldiers were waging a fierce ground battle with entrenched Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan after a night of heavy U.S. bombing that left many Taliban fighters dead. U.S. warplane began bombing two suspected Taliban positions in the Chinaran and Larzab mountains of Dai Chopan district in southern Zabul province, late Thursday, provincial intelligence chief Khalil Hotak told The Associated Press. The bombing ended at about 4 a.m., and some 500 local Afghan soldiers moved in on the Taliban fighters — who had taken up fortified positions in a deep mountain gorge and along a stream that runs through the area, Hotak said in a command center set up in Qalat, about 70 kilometers south of the fighting. Bomb all night and let Afghan infantry move in at dawn. It was impossible to know the exact number of Taliban killed in the bombing and subsequent fighting, but Hotak said the number of fighters killed could be as high as 35. The U.S. military could not immediately be reached for comment. "The fighting was intense and we have inflicted heavy damage on the Taliban,’’ Hotak said. "Our forces counted 35 Taliban bodies.’’ As he spoke, Hotak received calls from commanders at the scene, barking back orders for the ongoing fighting. The fighting was still going on by mid-morning Friday, Hotak said. He said his forces believe hundreds of Taliban have taken up positions in the area, with at least 15 hideouts. Nice to have them on this side of the border. Hotak said he had no word yet on fresh casualties among the Afghan soldiers. Four Afghan soldiers were wounded in fighting Thursday. Zabul’s governor, Hafizullah Hashami, said even before the most recent fighting that about 40 Taliban had been killed in an ongoing operation to clear out guerrillas hiding in the mountainous area. Afghan officials say they believe at least two prominent Taliban commanders, Mullah Dadullah and Mullah Shafiq, were leading the fighting in the area. Mullah Omar may have been here, but I’ll bet he’s back on his motercycle by now. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 Four Afghan soldiers were wounded in fighting Thursday. I bet it does wonders for Afghan morale that the wounded are medevaced out. That's something the Taliban don't have access to. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-29 4:03:00 PM |