US Bombs Taliban Positions North of Kabul

Published October 27th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

US planes Saturday bombed Taliban positions about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Kabul in the Chomali plains, an AFP reporter witnessed. 

The jets dropped at least 13 bombs, 10 of which hit Taliban positions on the Degaza hill, some four kilometres south of the frontline, which passes just south of Bagram airport. 

Three other bombs fell further away at Niazi, according to anti-Taliban general Babai Djan, who commands Northern Alliance forces on the Bagram front. 

"They hit the tanks, troops and the anti-aerial defence of the Taliban," the general said. 

The raid started at about 11:15 am (0645 GMT) and was over by about noon (0730 GMT). 

A soldier at the airport said that an earlier raid had taken place at about 8:30 am, with four explosions following, but this could not be confirmed. 

American planes have recently intensified their attacks on the frontline north of Kabul in a series of daily raids launched last Sunday, and only interrupted on Friday, a Muslim holy day. 

However, the general said the attacks had not been as intense as the opposition hoped. "It would good if it was more intensive," he said. 

On Thursday, foreign minister of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, Abdullah Abdullah, said the low level of US jet attacks on militia frontlines north of Kabul, where the Taliban have an estimated 6,000 fighters, was provoking growing frustration in opposition ranks. 

"So far the level of pressure on the Taliban is not such that they will be demoralised, lay down their weapons and run away," he said. 

During Saturday morning's raid, the Taliban's anti-aerial guns were mainly silent, except for one burst of fire. 

Taliban forces also once fired a canon at the positions of the Northern Alliance, the shell falling some metres short of their area of control -- Afghanistan, (AFP)  

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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