Military

DATE= 1/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= AFGHAN/PENTAGON (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-285238

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S forces are looking for new targets in Afghanistan after finally destroying a massive al-Qaida weapons complex near the Pakistan border. More from V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida.

TEXT: One-hundred days after the start of the U-S military offensive in Afghanistan, top defense officials say a huge complex of al-Qaida buildings and caves at Zhawar-Kili in eastern Afghanistan has at last been largely destroyed.

With U-S forces on the ground directing air strikes over a period of several days, Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem of the Pentagon's Joint Staff says, warplanes repeatedly dropped precision-guided munitions on a variety of targets. These included more than 60 buildings that were destroyed and at least 50 caves that are now sealed off. Admiral Stufflebeem says U-S troops also removed heavy weapons from some caves and then called in air strikes so the equipment could also be destroyed.

///STUFFLEBEEM ACTUALITY///

It was obvious once we got special operating forces on the ground to be able to look at this complex that this had been at one time a significant al-Qaida facility, and therefore, it was taking time to get into the caves and be able to pull out equipment that was discovered there, some of which were tanks.

///END ACTUALITY///

But Admiral Stufflebeem concedes there are probably still other al-Qaida facilities in the border area with Pakistan. He says U-S forces are now turning their attention away from Zhawar-Kili to conduct new search-and-destroy missions elsewhere in the region.

///STUFFLEBEEM ACTUALITY///

We have leveled the remaining structures that were found on the surface and we have closed all the caves that we would intend not be reoccupied so I guess the best way to term it is it's now time to go look elsewhere.

///END ACTUALITY///

Admiral Stufflebeem denies suggestions that the search-and-destroy process is being prolonged because Afghan forces working with the United States have lost interest in continuing the war.

///STUFFLEBEEM ACTUALITY///

All of the anti-Taleban forces have been extremely helpful in trying to help guide us to the most logical place to go and look for these kinds of caves.

///END ACTUALITY///

Admiral Stufflebeem says there is an extraordinary number of caves where al-Qaida and Taleban forces could be hiding or storing equipment. He says there are not enough U-S troops to explore all of them at once so missions are being prioritized on the basis of intelligence information. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/MAR