US-led force tightens grip on al-Qa'ida
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Internal links
Coalition and Afghan forces continued to squeeze a group of desperate and encircled Taliban and al-Qa'ida fighters yesterday as waves of warplanes struck their inaccessible mountain strongholds.
Afghan commanders sent fresh troops to bolster the assault south of the eastern Afghan city of Gardez, and reinforcements of US soldiers were flown to supporting positions. "They can't escape," Abdul Matin Hasan Khiel, a frontline commander, said. "They're surrounded. Slowly, slowly we are pushing in."
Just how many regrouped al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters are holed up around the remote village of Shah-e-Kot remains unclear. On Monday, General Tommy Franks, head of US Central Command, said he believed there may be up to 400. But the Afghan Foreign Minister, Abdullah Abdullah, said yesterday he believed that 1,000 fighters – most al-Qa'ida – were 12,000ft up in the mountains. Dr Abdullah said Shah-i-Kot was al-Qa'ida's biggest stronghold, "though there might be small pockets of al-Qa'ida or individuals in other parts of the country".
The thrust of Operation Anaconda – the name chosen because of the snake's habit of constricting its prey – is being led by US special forces and troops from the élite 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division. Special forces from six other coalition countries have also been involved, as well as the Afghan volunteers. The Western-led forces total more than 2,000.
Much of the US ground force in Afghanistan has now been flown to Bagram air base north of Kabul to support the offensive. General Franks said Afghan troops were encircling the 60sq-mile area to prevent the Taliban and al-Qa'ida fighters escaping. After fighting last year in the mountains of Tora Bora, many fighters slipped across the border into Pakistan because their escape routes had not been blocked.
Commanders say 200 fighters have been killed and several prisoners taken. They say the Taliban and al-Qa'ida fighters have shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles such as Russian SA-7s and possibly US Stingers as well as mortars, grenades and cannons.
The bodies of the seven US soldiers killed on Monday in two Chinook helicopter incidents were flown to Germany, bound for America.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments