Coalition forces closing in on al-Qaida in rugged terrain

GARDEZ, Afghanistan -- Hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida fighters were killed in fierce fighting Tuesday as U.S.-led coalition forces pressed their offensive in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghan-istan, the American commander said.

U.S. forces in the region said as many as 800 opposition fighters had been seen moving toward the battle since the American-led operation was launched on Saturday.

"We body slammed them today and killed hundreds of those guys," said Maj. Gen. Frank L. Hagenbeck, the commander of the operation near Gardez, 75 miles south of Kabul, the capital.

U.S.-led forces continued inching up the snow-covered mountains, meanwhile, trying to reach hideouts still believed to contain hundreds more al-Qaida and Taliban fighters. Some forces entered at least one cave complex, uncovering weapons caches.

Allied jets flew high over Paktia province, dropping bombs as well as decoy flares to ward off heat-seeking missiles -- defensive measures after two U.S. helicopters were hit Monday in incidents that left seven U.S. soldiers dead.

Front-line commander Abdul Matin Hasankhiel said hundreds of Afghan and coalition forces have ringed the mountain range and trapped the al-Qaida and Taliban fighters higher up.

"They can't escape. They're surrounded. Slowly, slowly we are pushing in," he said.

No word on resistance

Hundreds of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters are believed to be holed up in the area, Brig. Gen. John Rosa told reporters at the Pentagon. Bombers and tactical aircraft have dropped more than 450 bombs on the area since the assault began Friday night, he said.

"We've been able to get into at least one of the cave complexes thus far and we've discovered mortars, rocket-propelled grenade rounds, small arms. And in a different location we found more weapons and ammunition, as well as foreign driver's licenses and foreign passports," he said. He did not say whether there was resistance entering the caves.

One fighter, Nawab, who returned from a front-line position Tuesday, said about 50 U.S. special Forces were fighting alongside Afghan soldiers at his position about 2 1/2 miles from Shah-e-Kot, the village that is the focus of the largest U.S.-led coalition air and ground operation in Afghanistan to date.

Mine sweepers were leading the way, clearing the paths along the snowy mountains. Attack jets circled overhead and pounded al-Qaida positions while Chinook helicopters ferried in supplies. A powerful fleet of aircraft -- including A-10s, F-15s, B-1s, B-52s, AC-130 gunships, and French Mirage 2000 and Super-Etendard aircraft -- was participating in the assault.

The blitz was concentrating on a 60-square-mile area south of the provincial capital, Gardez.

Nawab said fighting was less intense than in previous days. The militants were equipped with heavy artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, mortars, cannons and machine guns.

U.S. officials said Tuesday the United States had observed al-Qaida forces reoccupying several former training camps in the region that were bombed earlier in the war.

"We don't know how long it's going to take, but we'll be there," said Gunnery Sgt. Charles Portman, a spokes-man at the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

Ceremony in Germany

The eight American servicemen killed in Afghanistan were honored in Germany before their flag-draped caskets were flown back to the United States. A C-17 transport jet brought the men's remains to Ramstein Air Base and was met on the tarmac by a U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force honor guard for the somber ceremony under cloudy skies in the wooded hills of western Germany.

"We should make sure these very brave people who lost their lives did not do so in vain," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday, calling for the world to redouble its efforts to stamp out terrorism.