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Operation Anaconda Won, But How Many Taliban and Al Qaeda Fighters Got Away?

Aired March 13, 2002 - 13:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: From every indication at this point, Operation Anaconda has been won, but in Shah-e-Kot, as in Tora Bora several months ago, the unanswered question there, is how many Taliban and how many Al Qaeda fighters got away?

Nic Robertson has the very latest.

We warn you, in this report, there are some images you might find a bit disturbing.

Here is Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Blasted from their defensive positions around Shah-e-Kot, three dead Al Qaeda or Taliban fighters lie on the rocks where they fell. A few feet away in the village that had recently become their base, evidence of a massive air assault on the mud-built compounds. And relaxing amid the ruins, Afghan fighters and U.S. special forces. Their mission to capture the Shah-e-Kot valley area complete.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): First we captured all of the mountain tops, and the U.S. forces were with us in this fight. Now there is not an enemy left in this area.

ROBERTSON: Overhead, attack helicopters circle, ensuring security in the hours just after victory for the troops below.

In all, some 900 Afghan fighters attacked the village in an overnight offensive, one ethnic group from the north and another from the south, teaming up with U.S. special forces along the way. During the last six days of Operation Anaconda, U.S. forces say they received no accurate or sustained enemy fire, and in the final offensive, it appears some Al Qaeda or Taliban may have slipped away.

ZIA LODIN, AFGHAN COMMANDER (through translator): We surrounded them, and when we were strong, we attacked them, and in a short time terminated them, and a few of them escaped.

ROBERTSON: Commanders here say the next phase of the battle is to regroup and scour the area for any Taliban and Al Qaeda elements that may be hiding nearby. Around the village, there are only occasionally indicators of ground fighting and few bodies to be seen, hinting that many may have fled from here before the final offensive.

Leaving the battlefield, not far away, Afghan fighters spoke of fierce bombing before their assault.

According to this fighter, many Al Qaeda and Taliban were buried in the rubble.

(on camera): With Al Qaeda and Taliban forces either killed or driven from this area, Operation Anaconda appears to have achieved one of its primary objectives. How many of the fundamentalist forces remain on the ground is unclear.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Shah-e-Kot, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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