 |
| Related News |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| US, British Forces Resume Strikes on Afghanistan |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
TUE, OCT 09, 2001
|
|
|
The U.S. and British forces resumed strikes against targets in Afganistan on Monday night. The fresh assault was launched in an effort to weaken the Taliban military and disrupt terrorist training activities in the country.
According to defense officials, the military strikes were designed to knock out air defense installations, fuel depots and airfields. Some raids were also planned against Taliban troop concentrations.
The latest assault is a follow-up to at least three waves of attacks launched since Sunday evening.
The first two rounds of attack targeted Afghan's capital Kabul and the city of Jalalabad near the Pakistani border. Many targets, including the airport in Kandahar, the headquarters of the Taliban militia, and the Taliban command center in Kabul were destroyed. The city of Jalalabad is surrounded by suspected Al-Qaeda training camps, and other terrorist support activities.
A third wave of attacks began early Monday morning. Anti-aircraft fire lit up the sky with red tracers. The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press said people were fleeing from the affected cities.
U.S. defence officials said U.S. and British submarines along with two U.S. destroyers and an American cruiser launched cruise missiles.
The U.S. military said a variety of military aircraft were used, including long range B-2, B-1 and B-52 bombers, as well as F16 fighters. Tomahawk missiles were launched to pave the way for additional raids by smaller fighter jets with laser-guided bombs.
There are no reports yet of ground troops entering the country. But according to a U.S. military commander at a Monday morning briefing, the U.S. forces are only in the early stages of combat operations.
|
|
|
