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CNN Live Saturday

Heavy Combat Near Gardez, Afghanistan

Aired March 02, 2002 - 22:02   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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: At least one American serviceman and three Afghan fighters are among the first reported casualties of a large military strike in eastern Afghanistan. There's heavy combat and bombings near Gardez, where a Taliban and al Qaeda fighters are said to be regrouping.

CNN's Jonathan Aiken has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AIKEN (voice-over): The largest offensive by U.S. and Afghan forces so far this year has already resulted in U.S. and Afghan casualties. The fighting targeted al Qaeda and Taliban forces in a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, near the city of Gardez.

MAJ. A.C. ROPER, SPOKESMAN, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION: For some time now, coalition forces and Afghan forces have been conducting operations in eastern Afghanistan to eliminate al Qaeda and Taliban forces that we have identified in the region.

AIKEN: A force of up to 600 Afghan fighters, joined by an advanced team of Americans, launched an assault on suspected al Qaeda positions, which were the focus of heavy bombing by B-52 and U.S. fighter aircraft since Friday night. Reports from civilians say more U.S. bombers were seen heading back to the region late Saturday.

Afghan troops seen retreating from their positions Saturday say they were outnumbered and outgunned by al Qaeda forces, who defended the high ground with heavy mortar and machine gun fire. More U.S. troops are arriving in the region, led by elements of the 101st Airborne Division based in Kandahar, and some Special Forces units operating in eastern Afghanistan.

Other choppers are coming from Bagram air base and other facilities near the capital of Kabul, to aid in operation U.S. military officials say could last some time, and what a Pentagon spokeswoman on Friday called "an ongoing concern."

VICTORIA CLARKE, PENTAGON SPOKESWOMAN: We have said all along it is not over, it is not over in Afghanistan, and that for some time there will be pockets of resistance in a variety of places, that there would be al Qaeda, there would be firefights, there would be lots of things, different sizes and shapes. Those are the kinds of things we're referring to. AIKEN: The terrain is mountainous, it is snow-covered, and it is close enough to the border with Pakistan to prompt that country's military to seal off 60 miles of adjoining territory. The idea being to keep Taliban and al Qaeda forces from escaping the battle and regrouping on the other side of the mountains.

Jonathan Aiken for CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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