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Coalition, Afghan Forces Attack Al Qaeda-Taliban Enclave
Sunday, March 3, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

U.S. Apache attack helicopters have been damaged by small-arms fire, but no aircraft have been shot down.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
A U.S. soldier and three Afghan fighters have been killed in heavy fighting south of the Afghan city of Gardez, U.S. Central Command officials reported today.

Defense officials said Afghan and coalition forces have been attacking a concentration of Al Qaeda and non-Afghan Taliban forces. Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. John Rosa said Mar. 1 that a few hundred Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters were using the area to regroup.

U.S. Central Command officials characterized some of the firefights as "intense." The forces targeted vehicles, cave complexes, enemy troop concentrations and anti-aircraft artillery sites.

An unspecified number of U.S. and Afghan forces have been injured in the operation. Central Command officials said the injured received emergency medical care and were either returned to their units or evacuated to medical facilities. None of the injuries to U.S. personnel are life-threatening.

There is no word on Al Qaeda or Taliban casualties.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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