03 March 2002
U.S., Coalition, Anti-Taliban Afghan Forces Continue Fight
(Close air support targets enemy troops, vehicles, weaponry) (370)
Getting air support from strike aircraft, bombers and AC-130 gunships,
U.S. coalition and anti-Taliban Afghan forces continued to attack
al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taliban forces south of Gardez, the U.S.
Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa announced on March 3.
Fighting continues to be intense at times, according to the CENTCOM
statement. One American and three anti-Taliban Afghan soldiers have
been killed, along with an unspecified number of wounded. The enemy
force is estimated to be several hundred.
This attack on al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taliban forces south of Gardez
in eastern Afghanistan began in the evening of March 1.
The text of the full statement follows:
(begin text)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AFGHAN, COALITION AND U.S. FORCES USE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT TO ATTACK AL
QAEDA/TALIBAN FORCES SOUTH OF GARDEZ
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA. -- Afghan, Coalition and U.S. ground
forces continue operations south of Gardez with air support from
strike aircraft, bombers and AC-130 gunships. Among the Coalition
countries participating in the operation are Australia, Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany and Norway.
Aircraft have targeted vehicles, mortars, enemy troop locations, caves
and anti-aircraft artillery sites. Firefights continue to be intense
at times in heavy combat actions. The size of the enemy force is
estimated to be several hundred.
One U.S. service member and three Afghan forces have been killed in
hostile action and an unspecified number of U.S. and Afghan forces
have been injured. The injured received emergency medical attention on
the scene and were either returned to action or transported to a
medical facility in the region. All U.S. injuries are non-life
threatening.
No U.S. aircraft have been shot down, although some AH-64 Apache
helicopters have sustained damage from enemy fire.
To date, more than 270 bombs have been dropped from aircraft in
support of Afghan, U.S. and Coalition forces. Afghan, U.S. and
Coalition forces are involved in eliminating al-Qaida and non-Afghan
Taliban fighters in the area, who pose a threat not only to the lawful
Afghanistan government but also to the world.
(end text)
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