*EPF112 03/04/2002
Text: U.S., Coalition, Anti-Taliban Afghan Forces Continue Fight
(Close air support targets enemy troops, vehicles, weaponry) (360)

Getting air support from strike aircraft, bombers and AC-130 gunships, U.S. coalition and anti-Taliban Afghan forces continued to attack al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taliban forces south of Gardez, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa announced on March 3.

Fighting continues to be intense at times, according to the CENTCOM statement. One American and three anti-Taliban Afghan soldiers have been killed, along with an unspecified number of wounded. The enemy force is estimated to be several hundred.

This attack on al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taliban forces south of Gardez in eastern Afghanistan began in the evening of March 1.

The text of the full statement follows:

(begin text)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFGHAN, COALITION AND U.S. FORCES USE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT TO ATTACK AL QAEDA/TALIBAN FORCES SOUTH OF GARDEZ

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA. -- Afghan, Coalition and U.S. ground forces continue operations south of Gardez with air support from strike aircraft, bombers and AC-130 gunships. Among the Coalition countries participating in the operation are Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany and Norway.

Aircraft have targeted vehicles, mortars, enemy troop locations, caves and anti-aircraft artillery sites. Firefights continue to be intense at times in heavy combat actions. The size of the enemy force is estimated to be several hundred.

One U.S. service member and three Afghan forces have been killed in hostile action and an unspecified number of U.S. and Afghan forces have been injured. The injured received emergency medical attention on the scene and were either returned to action or transported to a medical facility in the region. All U.S. injuries are non-life threatening.

No U.S. aircraft have been shot down, although some AH-64 Apache helicopters have sustained damage from enemy fire.

To date, more than 270 bombs have been dropped from aircraft in support of Afghan, U.S. and Coalition forces. Afghan, U.S. and Coalition forces are involved in eliminating al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taliban fighters in the area, who pose a threat not only to the lawful Afghanistan government but also to the world.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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