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US bombers pound many targets in Afghanistan
U.S. warplanes including a B-52 bomber roared over Kabul on Monday firing at least two missiles but the focus of U.S. bombing remained the front lines of the ruling Taliban north of the Afghan capital.
US warplanes including a B-52 bomber roared over Kabul on Monday firing at least two missiles but the focus of US bombing remained the front lines of the ruling Taliban north of the Afghan capital.
The Taliban asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take the body of an American reported to have died in custody in southern Afghanistan. The US embassy in Pakistan said it was investigating but had no details. The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency reported air raids overnight across the country, which has been the target of US bombing for 29 days.
The distant sound of small arms fire followed the attack on Kabul that appeared to have targeted the northwest outskirts of the city.
"The firing was unusual compared with other days," when attacks had only been met with anti-aircraft fire, said news person. "We don't know what's going on."
He said he could hear but not see jets in the overcast sky and what sounded like helicopter gunships. The overflights lasted about two and a half hours.
"We heard the first blast and then the second, even the whiz passing over our heads," he said.
Many people in the city were at prayers when the missiles landed. Many were also out in the street collecting water.
The United States has been bombing in an attempt to flush out Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, blamed for the September 11 attacks on the United States, and to punish his ruling Taliban protectors.
But Kabul has been spared in recent days with the focus of US strikes on Taliban front lines. The Taliban control most of Afghanistan, while the opposition Northern Alliance control pockets in the north and northeast.
AIP said planes attacked the Taliban 11th battalion and military installations at Herat airport in the west, killing at least two civilians.
The Taliban powerbase of Kandahar in the south was also hit. Planes attacked Keshendeh, 102 km (63 miles) south of Mazar-i-Sharif and killed six civilians in a house, AIP said. There was no independent confirmation of any of the reports Bureau Report
The Taliban asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take the body of an American reported to have died in custody in southern Afghanistan. The US embassy in Pakistan said it was investigating but had no details. The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency reported air raids overnight across the country, which has been the target of US bombing for 29 days.
The distant sound of small arms fire followed the attack on Kabul that appeared to have targeted the northwest outskirts of the city.
"The firing was unusual compared with other days," when attacks had only been met with anti-aircraft fire, said news person. "We don't know what's going on."
He said he could hear but not see jets in the overcast sky and what sounded like helicopter gunships. The overflights lasted about two and a half hours.
"We heard the first blast and then the second, even the whiz passing over our heads," he said.
Many people in the city were at prayers when the missiles landed. Many were also out in the street collecting water.
The United States has been bombing in an attempt to flush out Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, blamed for the September 11 attacks on the United States, and to punish his ruling Taliban protectors.
But Kabul has been spared in recent days with the focus of US strikes on Taliban front lines. The Taliban control most of Afghanistan, while the opposition Northern Alliance control pockets in the north and northeast.
AIP said planes attacked the Taliban 11th battalion and military installations at Herat airport in the west, killing at least two civilians.
The Taliban powerbase of Kandahar in the south was also hit. Planes attacked Keshendeh, 102 km (63 miles) south of Mazar-i-Sharif and killed six civilians in a house, AIP said. There was no independent confirmation of any of the reports Bureau Report