51.   Pakistan agreed last year to allow the United States to use several smaller airfields in support of combat operations in Afghanistan.

52.   According to Kozyrev, Russian authorities had not considered the possibility of protracted combat operations in Chechnya.

53.   Although Chechen rebels are no longer able to mount sustained combat operations against Russian forces, they have proved capable of inflicting serious damage with guerrilla-style attacks.

54.   But he also said combat operations would continue in areas of the city where there were no civilians.

55.   But the troops will not take part in any combat operations.

56.   But the U.S. involvement in Vietnam began small and expanded into a massive combat operation.

57.   Combat operations continued Saturday near the southern towns of Shali, Bamut, Orekhovo and Alkhan-Yurt, military officials told the ITAR-Tass news agency.

58.   Coalition troops fight al-Qaida in new combat operation in eastern Afghanistan, British commander says.

59.   Currently, combat operations are overseen by six regional commanders.

60.   Defense Minister Pavel Grachev said earlier this week that major combat operations will cease once Yeltsin makes his speech, and a step-by-step withdrawal of troops will begin.