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CNN Sunday Morning

Slower Day in Operation Anaconda

Aired March 10, 2002 - 09:04   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Operation Anaconda is still underway, but hundreds of U.S. troops are pulling out of the fighting in the Shah-e-Kot Valley. Meanwhile, our Nic Robertson has been following developments in Gardez. Nic, what can you tell us?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it does appear to have been a slower day in Operation Anaconda, unlike the last few days. We've heard very few detonations coming from the mountains towards the front line, and fewer over flights of coalition aircraft. Late in the day now, the sun is beginning to set we're seeing what appears to be a B-52 bomber circling overhead.

Through the day, we've seen a couple of fighter aircraft overhead, but it has been a much quieter day. Closer to the front line, 20 miles south of here, we have seen a fair amount of helicopter activity, Chinooks taking off, also a medical helicopter flying in that area close to the front line, just close to the mountains.

Difficult to tell exactly what's going on, whether those helicopters are bringing in fresh troops or taking out other troops, but certainly a lot of activity by U.S. Special Forces and Afghan fighters close to the front line, close to the mountains.

And here in Gardez, also an Afghan reinforcement force is building up. We've seen commanders with their troops, working on their armored artillery pieces, on their tanks and other equipment that they say that they will take to the front line to join in Operation Anaconda.

Also, talking to those commanders, they say that they are ready to work alongside the American force. These commanders, of course, coming in from north of Kabul, not part of the original Afghan force that the U.S. Special Forces helped train in Operation Anaconda, but they say they are ready and have agreed to work alongside the American and coalition forces here. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Nic Robertson, thank you very much.

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