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U.S. Jets Bomb Suspected Taliban Hideouts
EFLU.S. fighter jets and helicopters bombed suspected Taliban hideouts Thursday in Afghanistanâs rugged southern mountains following intense battles between the insurgents and Afghan troops, officials said. Still going at it, keep the pressure up, boys. The troops were trying to flush out the Taliban from Zabul province when the guerrillas attacked with heavy machine guns in the Chinaran mountains, said Haji Granai, an Afghan military commander. The bodies of three Taliban members were found, and four Afghan soldiers were slightly injured, Granai said as explosions boomed in the background. Two U.S. bombers and two helicopters helped in the battle, he said. In fighting earlier this week, Zabulâs governor, Hafizullah Hashami, said about 40 Taliban and three Afghan soldiers were killed in the ongoing operation to clear guerrillas from the province. Khalil Hotak, the head of intelligence in Zabul, said troops were also searching village homes. He said the insurgents were being led by Mullah Arif, whoâs in contact with the Talibanâs fugitive chief, Mullah Mohammed Omar. He gave no evidence to back his claim, saying only that he had intelligence information. Guess Omar is running the show from a safe location. A spokesman for Kandaharâs military chief, Mohammed Yaqub, said two other prominent Taliban commanders, Mullah Dadullah and Mullah Shafiq, were leading the fighting in the area. Two fighters arrested in the area two days ago told investigators they were recruited by the Taliban and fighters loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. They said they received $650 from the two groups, Hotak said. Advertising for fighters on MonsterJihadi.com. Also on Thursday, Col. Rodney Davis, spokesman for the U.S. military at Bagram Air Base, just north of the capital, Kabul, said a band of insurgents attacked coalition forces Wednesday near the village of Shkin in eastern Paktika province. The guerrillas fired small arms and rocket propelled grenades at the coalition soldiers. The insurgents fled toward the Pakistani border after coalition forces fired back and called in air support. No casualties were reported. The usual launch and run suspects. Posted by: Steve 2003-08-28 |
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