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CNN Saturday Morning News

U.S. War Planes Strike Targets in Eastern Afghanistan

Aired March 02, 2002 - 08:04   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: Targeting suspected terrorist holdouts in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. war planes struck at more targets today, continuing air strikes that began last night.

For the latest on the new offensive, we go live to Kabul, Afghanistan and CNN's Brian Palmer -- hello, Brian.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

We're trying to fill in the details as we get them. Our best source now, a senior defense ministry official who tells us that U.S. aircraft, B-52s, have targeted and struck areas in eastern Afghanistan, in the Shah-e-Kot region in that very mountainous region in that province. He also says that about 500 to 600 Afghan ground troops have gone in to try and root out al Qaeda and Taliban remnants.

He says that there are no U.S. ground forces active in this operation. Now, our CNN staffers have spoken to some Afghans who come from that region, who come from Gardez City. They tell us they themselves heard the bombing and they say that they saw American troops headed in cars toward the fighting. The U.S. military, the Pentagon, the Central Command will not confirm, will not even discuss ongoing operations. So we have to stress that these people who say that U.S. forces have headed that way are civilians and they claim to be eyewitnesses. We have several people saying that but we have no absolute confirmation of that.

Now, the wire services are reporting that aircraft have taken off in support of this operation from air bases south of Kabul. We ourselves have seen helicopters taking off, but we have no idea whether or not they're actually in support of this operation -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Brian Palmer, we'll continue to check in with you for the latest there from Kabul. Thank you so much.

The number of detainees refusing food at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay is dwindling. U.S. military officials say about a quarter of the detainees are still on the hunger strike. Two of them have been given intravenous liquids. The hunger strike began Wednesday after a guard removed a turban from a praying detainee's head. Military officials say there was a concern that a weapon could be hidden in the fabric. The camp commander has instructed guards to be more aware of the detainees' religious practices.

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