Attack on US-Afghan border base

AFP via The Australian ^ | 20 March 2004 | From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan

[Cap Huff]

Attack on US-Afghan border base From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan 20mar04

US and Afghan forces repelled a major attack on a base on the Afghan-Pakistan border, leaving at least three suspected Taliban or al-Qaeda fighters dead, an Afghan military commander said today.

Afghan Militia Force commander Zakim Khan said the militants had fled from the Pakistani tribal belt where the military has launched a major operation to hunt down al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives, cornering up to 400 fighters.

"This group had came from Pakistan and fled back to Pakistan after the fighting," he said.

"Three al-Qaeda fighters were killed and we believe seven to eight of them were wounded."

The insurgents attacked the base with about 20 rockets and machine guns, Khan said, adding there were no coalition injuries.

Khan commands a border regiment based in Lwara, in southeastern Paktika province across the border from South Waziristan, where thousands of Pakistani troops are hunting suspected al-Qaeda forces.

Lwara is the headquarters for some 1000 US and Afghan troops.

It was attacked last night by "an extremely large" number of Taliban and al-Qaeda militants who crossed from Pakistan and later fled back across the porous frontier, Khan said.

"We replied with fire and the US helicopters responded during the fighting which started at 8pm local time and lasted until midnight."

Yesterday, a Taliban source said 50 al-Qaeda operatives had fled across the border into Afghanistan is a result of the Pakistani operation.

[Cap Huff]

FYI

[ChadGore]

Who wants sum ?

[Cap Huff]

Sorry, I don't follow you.

[Cap Huff]

Here's the AP version:

U.S, Afghan Forces Repel Taliban Attack

NOOR KHAN

Associated Press

ORGUN, Afghanistan - American helicopter gunships and Afghan troops repelled a Taliban attack near the eastern border with Pakistan, killing three suspected Taliban, an Afghan security official said Saturday.

The alleged Taliban attack occurred Friday night in lawless Paktika province's Bermal district, just two miles from the Pakistan border. The area adjoins Pakistan's South Wazirstan province, where Pakistani forces are carrying out a massive five-day-old push against al-Qaida and Taliban suspects.

It was unclear whether there was any link to the South Wazirstan battle or if the fighters had fled from the offensive across the border.

Zakim Khan, Paktika province intelligence chief and an Afghan militia commander, claimed that Taliban forces infiltrating from Pakistan launched Friday's night fighting, attacking Afghan checkpoints with rockets.

Afghan troops responded with AK-47 fire, Khan said. American forces with Afghans brought in helicopter gunships, firing upon the attacker position, he said.

Four hours of fighting left three Taliban dead and eight injured, with no casualties among the Afghan soldiers or Americans, Khan said.

Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, the capital, said he had no immediate information on the alleged fight.

Bermal district is 150 miles south of Kabul, in a province in which the Afghan government has had little security presence.

U.S. special operations forces and others are there in a stepped-up campaign to capture Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives hiding in the mountains, and to close escape routes from hiding places across the border in Pakistan.

On March 5, U.S. special operations snipers killed nine alleged Taliban in the area after 30 to 40 of the fighters allegedly tried to flank an American-Afghan position, the U.S. military said.

In Pakistan on Saturday, a senior Pakistani army officer told The Associated Press that an American helicopter had fired rockets at a car in the Alawarai Mandi district of North Waziristan, just one mile from the Afghan border. The area is about 30 miles northeast of Friday's attack.

Three people inside were injured, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said it was not clear if the Americans were after a specific target or knew they had crossed into Pakistani territory.

Hilferty, the main spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, disputed the claim.

"There are no American or combined forces over there," he said.

[Tom Bombadil]

Hammer and anvil.

[Cap Huff]

Exactly!

Like your screen name Tom.

[blam]

"US and Afghan forces repelled a major attack on a base on the Afghan-Pakistan border, leaving at least three suspected Taliban or al-Qaeda fighters dead, an Afghan military commander said today. "

A major attack and only three were killed? Do we have the equipment in the region that most of us think we do...like a spectre gunship or warthog? How did a major force manage to 'sneak' up on this base?

[blanknoone]

I think adjectives have been the first victim of this conflict. I think it rather impossible that a 'major' attack was repulsed with 3 dead.

[Cap Huff]

I momentarily thought about that "major" description. When I go back and look again I see that they are indirectly quoting the Afghan commander. I guess he considered it major. (I would too if a couple hundred al-Qaeda types suddenly appeared at the end of the road where I live! ;-) I guess it is a matter of perspective.

Nevertheless, I should hope to see more of the bad guys annihilated in a major attack with superior fire power. For the while I will assume that we're hearing only a tiny fraction of the story. Our guys are better than just good.

[mikegi]

A major attack and only three were killed? Do we have the equipment in the region that most of us think we do...like a spectre gunship or warthog? How did a major force manage to 'sneak' up on this base?

All the reporting from that area is ridiculous. This kind of harassing fire can go on interminably. To call it a major battle is a joke.

[ASA Vet]

Attack on US-Afghan border base From correspondents in Kabul

I always knew correspondents were the enemy, but I'd like to know what weapons
systems those Kabul based correspondents have which are capable of attacking
our base near the boarder?

[Cap Huff]

The pen is mightier than the sword!

(And cut and paste is a sticky mess sometimes!)

;-)

[ASA Vet]

And it's terribly difficult proof reading your own work.
I wish I had a dime for every time I've posted something stupid which
I'd failed to catch during proof reading.
There always is a SA around to bring those goofs to your attention.

[Cap Huff]

I've written some stupid things that were just plain stupid. Proofreading would only have made it error free stupidity.

[ASA Vet]

Oh yeh, I remember reading those.

;-)

[TMSuchman]

I believe it is time to go hunting!

Note to Troops;

Have plenty of ammo, shoot fast, straight,and a lot. Aim center mast, if you see a firearm, give them a body bag!

Remember SEPT. 11 boys and

UNLEASH HELL! SEMPER FI!!

[Objective Reality]

Better Headline:

"Buzzcut Badasses Waste Scores Of Suicidal Delusionals."

Wow. Charging headlong into the firewalls surrounding a U.S. military outpost. Gutsy little idiots, aren't they?

What, couldn't find a church school to bomb?

[reagan_fanatic]

"Usha should have dropped the bomba!"