Military

DATE=1/28/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN / U-S / FIGHTING UPDATE (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-298927

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///EDS: THIS UPDATES CR 2-298895 BY AYAZ GUL.///

INTRO: The Pentagon says combat operations have halted in southern Afghanistan following one of the biggest battles in months between rebel forces and U-S and Afghan troops. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: A Pentagon spokesman says U-S and Afghan forces have cordoned off an area close to the Pakistan border following a serious clash with armed rebels that left at least 18 rebels dead.

The spokesman says combat operations have now halted but further search-and-destroy patrols will be carried out.

Already, the spokesman says U-S and Afghan forces have uncovered one weapons cache. The Pentagon says it does not yet have a detailed inventory of the contents.

The activity began Monday when a small group of U-S Special Forces soldiers working with Afghan militia came under fire several kilometers north of the town of Spin Boldak.

One of the attackers was killed, a second wounded and a third captured. The Pentagon says the detainee revealed a large rebel contingent of some 80 fighters is hiding nearby.

Helicopters were called in and came under fire as they checked the report. More U-S troops were mobilized and aircraft called in to bomb a series of caves where the rebels were located.

The Pentagon says at least 18 rebels in all were killed in the action, which saw B-1 bombers and F-16 fighter jets drop a total of 21 heavy bombs.

The U-S military believes the rebel fighters are closely linked to Hezb-e-Islami movement of renegade Afghan leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He is suspected of trying to align his forces with remnants of the al-Qaida terrorist network and Afghanistan's ousted Taleban regime. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/RH