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CNN Sunday Morning

More Firing Attacks in Afghanistan

Aired April 14, 2002 - 11:45   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It seems that it's been all quiet in Afghanistan, at least for the U.S. and allied military operations. But just recently, we've gotten reports of more firing attacks taking place out there. We want to go to our Bob Costantini who's at the Pentagon with the latest on the Afghanistan firefight.

BOB COSTANTINI, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it was the first major firefight involving U.S. troops since March 19th. Now a military spokesman says U.S. Special Forces and allied Afghan fighters were patrolling a road Saturday night when they were fired upon. They would not disclose the location, but he tells us an AC-130 gun ship plane was called in to fire at the enemy location.

The spokesman, Major Brian Hilferty (ph) tells CNN: "We believe they killed several of the terrorists." While more information is being gathered, he adds: "We believe they are al Qaeda, or they wouldn't have shot at us."

Factional fighting has erupted in various locations since the fall of the Taliban, but Hilferty emphasized U.S. troops continue to be well received throughout Afghanistan. The last major firefight involving U.S. forces came outside the town of Khost on March 19th. At that time, ten al Qaeda fighters were reportedly killed.

Now the region near Khost in southeastern Afghanistan continues to be a hotbed of al Qaeda activity and it was more so again last night, overnight on Saturday, when we are told two mortar rounds were fired at a U.S. controlled airstrip near the town. Some damage was done to a building in that area, but we are also told that no U.S. troops were injured in that particular incident. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Bob, the U.S. -- the Pentagon has made it very clear that while the U.S. military operations have been downsized, it was still incredibly important to have a great presence there. This only seems to underscore that very message, that it's still a relatively volatile area.

COSTANTINI: Yes, especially in that area near Khost, because that is considered a major pathway between central Afghanistan and the Pakistani border. That's where a lot of the al Qaeda have supposedly going back and forth across the border, and that's considered at this point to be perhaps the most dangerous place in Afghanistan for U.S. forces to be, and there are patrols going in that area continuously from what we understand. But since March 19th, as we point out, there have not been any major firefights, and those forces have been extra careful in patrolling the area. But that is -- southeastern Afghanistan is still considered a relatively dangerous place. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Okay, and once again no U.S. casualties to report. Thanks very much, Bob Costantini from the Pentagon this morning.

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