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CNN Live At Daybreak

Soldier May Have Been Involved with Operation Condor When Killed

Aired May 20, 2002 - 06:02   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about Afghanistan now. U.S. military officials are, of course, determined to keep fighting there, despite the latest casualty.

CNN's Anderson Cooper has details from Kabul -- good morning, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Carol -- another sad reminder that Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place to be. Yesterday, as you mentioned, a U.S. Special Forces soldier was killed while on patrol in eastern Afghanistan in a very mountainous region near the Pakistan border called the Paktia province.

As I said, the U.S. Marines -- the U.S. Special Forces were on patrol there. Apparently, they came under fire. It is not clear exactly by whom yet. It's believed, of course, to be Taliban or al Qaeda fighters holed up there. The Special Forces returned fire, apparently, according to the U.S. military, killing one attacker. The U.S. Special Forces soldier was killed at some point in the attack, though we do not know exactly at this point. And an allied Afghan fighter fighting with the U.S. was also injured in that attack.

Now, this is the region, where 1,000 British troops are pushing in Operation Condor. That operation began late last week, Thursday night, after some Australians came under fire in the region. The British have been searching the area for any al Qaeda or Taliban holdouts. So far, they have found none.

Some very sad news this morning for a lot of people here, and details are still coming in, and we'll have more throughout the day -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Anderson Cooper reporting live for us from Kabul. Just a sad reminder that there's still a war going on in Afghanistan.

As Anderson said, it is not known if the Special Forces that came under fire are taking part in Operation Condor. CNN's Mike Boettcher is with British forces spearheading that mission in eastern Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm on a mountaintop about 20 miles from Pakistan in eastern Afghanistan with the British Royal Marine commandos in Operation Condor. That is the operation that began last Thursday night, sweeping through an area about 8 kilometers by 8 kilometers.

Behind me is a commando machine gunner. They are scattered along this ridge looking for any sign of al Qaeda or Taliban.

This operation began Thursday, because Australian Sasha Salama Special Forces troops said they came under fire, but so far in this operation, in this sweep to the mountain, they have made no contact with their enemy, al Qaeda and the Taliban.

This area is considered to be strategically important. The British Marine commandos on this hilltop say that along this area is a resupply route used by al Qaeda and the Taliban during Operation Anaconda last winter. That was the very big operation in which it is believed many al Qaeda and Taliban were killed by coalition forces.

Now, there are foxholes and bunkers all around here. They have found no ammunition, but signs that this was a well-fortified area and could be again, if they leave this area, when they leave this area. This operation is expected to continue on for a couple of more days.

Mike Boettcher, CNN, eastern Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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