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CNN Live Sunday

U.S.-Led War Planes Strike Taliban Front-Line

Aired October 21, 2001 - 15:05   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: As we continue our coverage of the progression of the military campaign against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, a CNN photographer located at Bagram Air Base -- now controlled by the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance -- witnessed two U.S. fighter jets attack Taliban front lines in the area.

CNN's Matthew Chance has details from northern Afghanistan.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, significant developments here in northern Afghanistan with U.S.-led coalition war planes striking at Taliban front-line positions north of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

A CNN crew was down on that front line earlier witnessing the strikes brought these exclusive pictures. Opposition Northern Alliance fighters pointing to the skies there as the warplanes streaked overhead with two planes flying at very high and a tight formation over the front lines, dropping a total of -- making four bombing runs at least along those front lines. Anti-Taliban -- anti- aircraft fire, rather, from the Taliban shooting up into the skies -- you can hear it in the background there -- but firing too low to make any difference to those planes interestingly.

Northern Alliance regional commanders have gathered at the Bagram Air Force Base, a key base during the Soviet Union's occupation here, just in time to witness these U.S.-led strikes, an indication there, perhaps, of the level of coordination that exists between the Northern Alliance commanders and those of the U.S. military command as well.

I was down at the front line myself earlier as well. I can tell you a very tense situation down there -- a lot of artillery exchanges between the two sides. There was no sign then, though, of any Northern Alliance push towards the Afghan capital of Kabul. Obviously, we're watching the situation very closely now, though, in light of those recent developments.

Matthew Chance, CNN, in northern Afghanistan.

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