Wave of rocket attacks hits US forces in Afghanistan

AFP ^ | 3-21-03

[Indy Pendance]

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFP) - US forces in Afghanistan (news - web sites) were pounded by rockets launched by suspected extremists as coalition troops continued a major al-Qaeda hunt, the US military said.

Spokesman Colonel Roger King said Friday more than a dozen rockets were targeted at three separate US bases in what was the largest assault on US forces in almost five months.

The attacks came as up to 1,000 personnel continued a major air and ground offensive against al-Qaeda, code-named "Valiant Strike", in mountains near the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

King refused to link the attacks, which occurred over a 24-hour period in southeastern Paktika and Khost provinces and central Uruzgan, to the start of US-led hostilities in Iraq (news - web sites).

"Special Forces in Orgun (in Paktika) reported six 107 mm rockets impacting near their base at around 6:00 pm (1330 GMT) Thursday," King told reporters at the US military's Afghan command on Bagram air base, north of Kabul.

"Four rockets were fired one hour later to the north of the base, followed by a last round at 10:00 pm (1730 GMT)."

"This last rocket fell four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the base and none of the rockets fell within 500 metres of the base. There were no casualties and no material damage," King said.

King said US Special Forces also observed missile fire in Khost against a border post on the nearby frontier with Pakistan at around 2:00 am Friday (2130 GMT Thursday).

He said fire was returned and close air support from an A-10 aircraft dropped several bombs on the suspected positions of the attackers. Again there were no US casualties or damage reports.

At Deh Rawood in the central province of Uruzgan, US Special Forces reported a rocket fired at an observation tower near one of their outposts at around 2:00 am Friday (2145 GMT Thursday).

King said the rocket fell 150 metres short of its apparent target.

Rocket attacks against US outposts in Afghanistan occur frequently, but few hit their mark.

The attacks came as almost 600 ground troops backed by heavily armed helicopters continued Valiant Strike, which was launched at dawn Thursday in the Sami Ghar mountains east of Kandahar and close to the Pakistan border.

Afghanistan's frontier with Pakistan is thought to conceal numerous al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters, many of whom are sheltering from intensified hunts on the Pakistan side of the border following several key arrests.

King said US troops had poured into the villages of Gari Kaloay and Sekandarzay, around 140 kilometres (87 miles) east of the city of Kandahar, but had not encountered any opposition.

"Operation Valiant Strike continues, there has been no contact with the enemy in the past 24 hours," King said.

"It is in a mountainous and isolated area, with villages in the valleys and caves at altitude. Our troops have positioned their forces in the area and have launched operations and searches," King said.

Questioned on the objective of Valiant Strike, King said the target was a "small number of al-Qaeda members" but mainly Afghans loyal to other extremist groups.

Believed to be one of the largest operations in the US-led coalition's 17-month operation in Afghanistan, Valiant Strike comes on the heels of a several major offensives against al-Qaeda and their Taliban allies.

[VadeRetro]

I see the Taliban's dreaded "Tet Counteroffensive" has begun. Or is it over?

[TommyDale]

It apears the terrorists may be cornered.

[smith288]

Redirect the b-52 to Afghanistan for a "pit stop"

[goldstategop]

They can't run and they can't hide. The fury of the American Eagle will smoke em out til they're either captured alive or dead.

[HairOfTheDog]

These are the troops our group at the Hobbit Hole have adopted. Prayers for their safety. And strength.

[F16Fighter]

"Fire was returned and close air support from an A-10 aircraft dropped several bombs on the suspected positions of the attackers."

Anybody else wanna come out and play-ay?

[Zon]

Wave of rocket attacks hits US forces in Afghanistan

"This last rocket fell four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the base and none of the rockets fell within 500 metres of the base. There were no casualties and no material damage," King said.

[Sloth]

"This last rocket fell four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the base and none of the rockets fell within 500 metres of the base. There were no casualties and no material damage," King said.

Sounds more like, "Wave of rocket attacks hits NO US forces in Afghanistan"

[expatpat]

Eleven rockets is a wave of rockets?

[HairOfTheDog]

Geraldo is with them on Fox right now.

I am sure that brings *them* little comfort!

[2Jedismom]

We sure don't plan to forget them, do we!

[HairOfTheDog]

I think anything after the 4th one aimed at me would make me tense. I wouldn't doubt 11 feels like a wave.

[Zon]

LOL!!!

[KeyWest]

ABC has a show about or troops on the front line. One was about these rocket attacks. They are nothing more than harassment and have little accuracy. Usually done by only a few people so it is limited. Also the ones who are behind them are generally dumb as a rock.

[astounded]

I do not yet understand why were are not putting out nightly ambushes against Taliban and al qaeda. These worked quite well in SEA when a small force of Rangers or SF embedded in a larger helicopter assault force stayed behind for recon and/or ambush purposes. I understand that it is harder to conceal in Afghanistan, but certainly SF and Ranger units could do this nightly. Or, is that now considered "unsporting"???

[cake_crumb]

"suspected extremists"???

...as opposed to "suspected enemies," or "suspected friends" or something?

I hate the media.

I'm surprised they didn't refer to the rockets as 'suspected rockets'. Time to give a little 'shockanaw' to the local suspects.

[katana]

The unit that fired them are by now just a fine pink mist.

[Samwise]

"Other evils may come; for Sauron himself is but a servant or emissary. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."

-Gandalf to the Captains of the West

God bless our troops and God bless America.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

It apears the terrorists may be cornered.

Take no prisoners!