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| Kandahar Under Heaviest U.S. Bombing in Days |
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THU, OCT 11, 2001
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U.S.-led forces launched heavy airstrikes against the southern Afghan city of Kandahar Thursday morning, the latest of a series of raids since Sunday, according to news reaching Islamabad from Kabul.
In the heaviest bombing raid in four days, U.S. jets hit areas around the city where suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and his some 300 followers live and train, Afghans fleeing from there were quoted as saying.
The Afghans said tens of bombs dropped late Wednesday into Kandahar's airport and in a nearby town Maiwan, where a suspected terrorist training camp is hidden in the mountains, though it is not clear if civilians were killed.
"The first day of the bombings began with cruise missiles and bombs dropped on the airport," they said. The bombing continued off and on until Wednesday.
But when the bombing stopped a sense of routine returned to Kandahar, the Afghans added, noting that shops were open during the day, although the city was becoming increasingly deserted. Many residents had moved to the countryside venturing back during the day.
The Taliban said 18 people were killed and many more hurt in the raid.
This morning's attacks on Kandahar came after a night of the heaviest bombardment yet of Kabul, the capital.
Wednesday night and early Thursday, U.S. jets pounded Kabul and explosions rocked areas around the city where are a Taliban military academy, artillery units and training camps.
The Taliban gunners returned fire with anti-aircraft weapons.
U.S.-led forces started airstrikes against Afghanistan Sunday evening and began daylight raids Tuesday.
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