Intensifying the offensive, the US on Tuesday carried out for the first time daylight air strikes in Afghanistan and followed it up with fresh attacks at night mainly targetting the spiritual headquarters of the Taliban in Kandahar and the residence of its supremo mullah Mohd Omar who is said to be safe. In late night attacks for the third consecutive day, the allied war planes pounded Kandahar and the northwestern city of Herat even as first independent confirmation was available of five civilian deaths, including four UN workers engaged in mine-clearing operations.
The Taliban responded with a burst of anti-aircraft gun fire but apparently failed to target the jets because of their high altitude flight path and darkness.
In the Kandahar attack, Taliban sources said the home of Omar, 15 km away from the city, came under attack.
Communications facilities and air defences at Kandahar airport have taken a great knock as American planes had been flying over Kandahar almost continuously during the day. Herat too came under strong attack tonight with the target being city airport and military sites on its outskirts.
Earlier, shortly after daybreak, US fighters bombed Kandahar around the house of Mullah Omar, who an aide said survived the attack as he had left the place only 15 minutes earlier. Bin Laden is also safe in Afghanistan, Taliban`s ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salaam Zaeef said in Islamabad.
Bureau Report