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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Troops Battle Rebels in Afghanistan

Aired January 28, 2003 - 06:36   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 turn our attention now to Afghanistan. U.S. and coalition forces are now engaged in an ongoing firefight with rebel forces. It is the largest military engagement since last spring's Operation Anaconda.
CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us by phone with the latest.

And, Barbara, we understand there have been deaths reported.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far, Carol, what the U.S. Central Command is telling us is, to the best of their knowledge, the good news is no friendly forces, no U.S. forces killed or wounded, but there were 18 enemy forces killed. And you're right. This has been the biggest firefight in Afghanistan since Operation Anaconda, the bombing at Tora Bora almost a year ago. It's been a very nasty reminder that while the buildup for Iraq is getting most of the attention, Afghanistan is far from over.

This firefight is ongoing. It lasted 12 hours yesterday. They came under fire in eastern Afghanistan, and the military then called in the 82nd Airborne. They went in, bombs were dropped from B-1 bombers, F-16s, an AC-130 gunship was used, Apache helicopters, all engaged in this. More than 20 bombs were dropped, and as I said, they estimate now 18 enemy forces killed.

And apparently, it was an enclave of about 100 suspected enemy forces. The word is these people may have been affiliated with a local chieftain who is a big supporter of the Taliban, someone well- known to the American forces in the region. And as I say, according to our information, the firefight goes on.

COSTELLO: All right, keep us up-to-date. Barbara Starr reporting live for us by phone this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 28, 2003 - 06:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn our attention now to Afghanistan. U.S. and coalition forces are now engaged in an ongoing firefight with rebel forces. It is the largest military engagement since last spring's Operation Anaconda.
CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us by phone with the latest.

And, Barbara, we understand there have been deaths reported.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far, Carol, what the U.S. Central Command is telling us is, to the best of their knowledge, the good news is no friendly forces, no U.S. forces killed or wounded, but there were 18 enemy forces killed. And you're right. This has been the biggest firefight in Afghanistan since Operation Anaconda, the bombing at Tora Bora almost a year ago. It's been a very nasty reminder that while the buildup for Iraq is getting most of the attention, Afghanistan is far from over.

This firefight is ongoing. It lasted 12 hours yesterday. They came under fire in eastern Afghanistan, and the military then called in the 82nd Airborne. They went in, bombs were dropped from B-1 bombers, F-16s, an AC-130 gunship was used, Apache helicopters, all engaged in this. More than 20 bombs were dropped, and as I said, they estimate now 18 enemy forces killed.

And apparently, it was an enclave of about 100 suspected enemy forces. The word is these people may have been affiliated with a local chieftain who is a big supporter of the Taliban, someone well- known to the American forces in the region. And as I say, according to our information, the firefight goes on.

COSTELLO: All right, keep us up-to-date. Barbara Starr reporting live for us by phone this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com