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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Bombing of Afghanistan Continues

Aired October 27, 2001 - 17:15   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.
FRANKEN: Taliban frontlines in northern Afghanistan were especially hard hit today as the U.S. military-led campaign prepares to end its third week of airstrikes.

CNN's Jonathan Aiken is on duty for us at the Pentagon today.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bob, it appears to be the most sustained effort yet against the Taliban frontlines in the 21 days of the U.S. air war. A resident of Kabul called it the worst night ever.

U.S. planes were busy on the Shamali (ph) plane, which is located north of Kabul, and they were said to be attacking Taliban frontline troops who were said to be dug in in the trenches and gun emplacements. Also hit targets in and around the western city of Herat and Kandahar in southwest Afghanistan, which has been a prime target for U.S. aircraft during this -- during the 21 days of this attack.

Said to be quiet. CNN producers in the region said there were no attacks to be speak of overnight.

You've been looking at video from the Bagram Air Base, which is a rebel-held base not far from the Northern Alliance frontlines with the Taliban. One Northern Alliance commander who witnessed the attack said he counted at least 20 bombs and said the U.S. effort was sustaining and that it lasted for most of the day.

Military placements were said to be the target, but there are reports coming out of Europe that quote the person who runs an Italian-led emergency facility located at a nearby city of Hanawah (ph), who said "there were civilian casualties as a result of the U.S. attacks". The Pentagon itself says it has no information on that report.

In Kabul itself, reports from the city say that a sprawling Taliban military compound, which has been set up next to the -- along abandoned U.S. embassy in Kabul was a main target, as was a large ammunition dump on the eastern fringe of the city.

Another reported case maybe of errant bombing to the United Nations, says one of its demining centers -- this is an area that helps -- this is a building where efforts are organized to help remove landmines from the areas in Afghanistan. The U.N. says that one of those demining centers in Kabul was hit by U.S. aircraft or by U.S. ordinance, rather, and that while no humans were killed, two mine- sniffing dogs were killed and a couple of vehicles were destroyed.

Pentagon did get some good news too, Bob. The United Kingdom is committing about 200 British Royal Marine commandos to ground forces when that action finally gets under way in earnest. These are people from the 3 Commando Brigade -- the #3 Commando Brigade. They're said to be experts in mountain warfare.

And Russia is also adding some ordinance too, committing 40 tanks and about 100 armored vehicles to the Northern Alliance effort. And in an effort to get the Saudi Arabians into the military loop, the U.S. -- the head of the U.S. military command, General Tommy Franks, paid a visit to Saudi King Fahd today -- Bob.

FRANKEN: Jonathan Aiken at the Pentagon.

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