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Your support makes all the difference.US warplanes took to the skies today after a bombing pause yesterday, pounding the areas around Kabul and Kandahar in a seventh day of airstrikes. People living near the scene of the Kabul strikes said at least one civilian was killed and four hurt.
The morning attacks followed a hiatus in the campaign against the ruling Taliban militia yesterday for the Muslim holy day.
A pre-dawn sortie hit the area around Kabul's airport, and people living in a nearby neighborhood said one person was killed and four wounded. Four destroyed houses could be seen.
"We have no way to rebuild our homes," said Mohammed Shoaib, whose house was one of those wrecked. "What will we do?"
The southern city of Kandahar, the stronghold of the Taliban, was targeted in a mid-morning strike. In Kabul, Taliban Information Minister Kudarat Ullah Jamal said the city's airport was hit.
He said several houses were destroyed and "a lot of people" killed. The claim could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the Taliban report that 200 villagers were killed in a missile strike earlier this week was challenged by British officials dismissed the claims as propaganda.
Independent verification of reports from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is almost impossible. Foreign journalists are barred and Afghan journalists are not allowed to move about and report freely.
Reports of civilian deaths caused unease for Pakistan, already facing an angry backlash from militant Islamic groups over its support for the United States against bin Laden and the Taliban.
British Under-Secretary of Defence, Lewis Moonie, suggested there could be a slowdown in bombing for the next several days because of a Muslim festival. "I would not be surprised if activity was much less over this weekend," he said.
Commemorations vary among Muslim countries, with some celebrating the holiday Friday or Saturday and others not until Monday. It is observed Monday in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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