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Zawar Kili Remains Concern, 414 Detainees Under U.S. Control
Tuesday, January 8, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Coalition aircraft launched strikes against the Al Qaeda's Zawar Kili complex in Afghanistan over the weekend, Pentagon officials said.

B-1 and B-52 bombers and F/A-18 fighter-bombers hit the complex. They dropped precision munitions and were guided to the targets by people on the ground.

The complex is in Paktia province in Eastern Afghanistan and is "extremely large," said Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke. She said she has heard estimates that the Al Qaeda facility is 3 miles wide by 3 miles long. There are more than 60 buildings in the complex and at least 40 caves, officials said.

The Zawar Kili strikes were on newly found targets as well as targets hit previously. Clarke said the strikes do varying amounts of damage on the caves. Sometimes the caves collapse completely. "The goal is to disable them as completely as possible."

The strikes were just part of the 113 sorties flown over Afghanistan Jan. 13. Other sorties included Commando Solo broadcast missions and leaflet drops.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan