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Paktia Province Becomes New Center of Concern
Monday, January 7, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"We're continuing to find them and we're continuing to strike their equipment as we find it. When you find tanks, it's pretty easy to determine that they are not ours, and they are clear targets."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
U.S. and coalition forces struck again at the Zawar Kili complex in Afghanistan's Paktia Province, DoD officials said Jan. 7.

Officials were concerned that Al Qaeda terrorists were using the complex to regroup.

"It is an Al Qaeda training facility, storage facility and a command facility," Joint Staff spokesman Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem said. "The strike was prompted by the intelligence that there was a lot of stuff there."

U.S. Central Command officials said the strikes hit armored personnel carriers, other tracked vehicles, supplies and munitions. Stufflebeem said the camp consists of one area above ground and two cave complexes. The strikes have leveled the buildings and sealed many of the caves.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan