Posted on 03/05/2002 2:25:32 PM PST by knighthawk
AUSTRALIAN soldiers are engaged in a pitched close-quarters battle in the frozen mountains of eastern Afghanistan against rebels prepared to die rather than surrender. During some of the most intense fighting of the war, elite troops from the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment have joined 2000 troops from seven coalition countries in Operation Anaconda.
US Commander Marine General Tommy Franks described the battle as "fierce".
"They are in the crags, the nooks and the crannies of this high ground, and our forces are right in there mixing it up with them," he said yesterday.
The battle involves close quarters combat to displace al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters well dug in on ridges in the mountainous Patkia province near the town of Gardez close to the border with Pakistan.
The coalition forces are led by Major General Franklin Hagenbeck, commander of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division.
In the biggest losses of the war so far, nine American soldiers have died and 40 have been wounded and between 100 and 200 rebel fighters are believed dead since fighting began on Saturday. No Australian casualties have been reported.
America's blackest hour in the war on terror in Afghanistan came when a MH-47 Chinook helicopter was attacked by withering fire during a forced landing.
Seven Americans were killed and 11 wounded in the ensuing firefight.
They were on a mission to rescue a crewman from another Chinook who was believed to have fallen from a chopper after it was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
While the grenade failed to explode it is believed the crewman who fell is dead.
Only one of the dead has been identified.
He was special forces soldier Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Harriman, 34, who died during a ground attack on Saturday.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said coalition troops would fight until the enemy either surrendered or were killed.
"The choice is theirs," he said.
Enemy fighters are equipped with small arms, mortars, rocket and grenade launchers plus surface-to-surface missiles.
For the first time since arriving in Afghanistan last December, SAS soldiers from the 150-strong Australian force have engaged in combat.
The Australians are fighting alongside troops from the US, Afghanistan, Germany, France, Canada, Denmark and Norway against an enemy believed to number in the several hundreds.
They are fighting in mountainous terrain up to 3500m above sea level.
They SAS trains for high altitude operations both in the Snowy Mountains (2200m) and overseas, including the New Zealand Alps, the Rocky Mountains in the US and the European Alps.
Ice and snow cover the battlefield where troops, spearheaded by special forces, the 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division, are being forced to endure freezing temperatures.
Rebel forces have had more than 350 heavy bombs, including newly developed anti-cave thermobaric air-fuel weapons, which suck air out of caves and tunnels, dropped on their mountain strongholds during the four-day campaign.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers said several hundred al-Qaeda fighters were believed to be operating in the area.
"We knew that al-Qaeda would have two choices, to run or stay and fight.
"It seems they have chosen to stay and fight to the last, and we hope to accommodate them," General Myers said.
Australian military spokesman Brigadier Paul Retter was unwilling to provide details of the Australian contribution because of security concerns.
He refused to say how many troops were deployed or what they were doing other than it was an "active role".
Other sources confirmed SAS troops were in an offensive role and were shooting at the enemy and being shot at.
Prime Minister John Howard said his thoughts were with the SAS troops.
"It is a fierce operation and we will all keep our fingers crossed for the safety of our own men [and] also those from other countries, who are in there fighting," he said yesterday.
President George W. Bush vowed to press ahead with the military campaign despite the losses.
"There is serious combat as I speak. And lives are lost. And we send our prayers and tears to those whose families have lost life. Defending freedom is a noble cause and it is a just cause," he said.
Secretary Rumsfeld said US-led coalition forces were meeting tough resistance.
"Substantial pockets of resistance remain, they are determined, they are dangerous, they will not give up without a fight," he said.
WHAT?!
I think that the Spec Ops guys are attempting to sneak-in close to designate the enemy strong points, but the bulk of the infantry forces are probably in blocking positions to prevent a sudden breakout attempt. Wouldn't want to get too close to one of those hyperbaric gems!
WHAT?!
Yup. Caught my eye also. I heard on the radio today that it is expected that they have surface to air missles also.
Thank you Aussies !
We used to call 'em "bullets" growing up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.