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U.S. Troops Killed/Afghan Assault - 3: Few Gains Seen
Sunday, March 3, 2002
Dow Jones Newswires

U.S. officials and Afghan sources estimate 4,000 to 5,000 foreigners who fought for the Taliban and al-Qaida remain inside Afghanistan.

The casualties came during the largest U.S.-led ground operation in the anti-terror campaign since December, military officials said.

The battle plan called for a combination of U.S. special forces and Army 101st Airborne assault troops fighting alongside Afghan allies on the ground with U.S. bombing support from the air, said Pentagon officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

By comparison, big gains in the war from October through December came mostly in operations in which Afghan allies fought on the ground with small teams of U.S. special forces calling in bombing targets for warplanes.

It appeared the U.S.-backed Afghans made little headway against al-Qaida and Taliban defenders on the first day of an offensive.

Afghan forces broke off the attack in early afternoon and withdrew, possibly to allow U.S. bombers to soften up Taliban and al-Qaida positions overnight. Heavy bombers could be heard flying toward the area late Saturday.

Even before word of the casualties, the new operation reinforced what the Pentagon long has maintained -- that the war against terrorism in Afghanistan was far from over.
(More: The Business Times Online News Source)
2002 © Dow Jones Newswires.

Dan