81. U.S. officials estimated that hundreds of enemy fighters were killed during the operation, mostly by intense U.S. airstrikes. 82. U.S. warplanes pounded al-Qaida and Taliban mountain strongholds Monday while coalition ground troops searched for pockets of enemy fighters in the rugged, snow-covered terrain. 83. With Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar still unaccounted for, American soldiers are hunting for top terrorist leaders and remaining clusters of enemy fighters. 84. Hilferty said that to date no enemy fighters had been pursued while crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan. 85. If, for example, there were large numbers of enemy fighters than anticipated, there may be a need for replacement troops. 86. The spokesman said the troops expected al-Qaeda and Taliban enemy fighters to operate in cells after the recent battle at Shahi Kot in eastern Afghanistan. 87. Thealition Afghan soldiers on the valley floor engage in a firefight against fleeing enemy fighters. 88. US military officials said Anaconda killed hundreds of enemy fighters, but conceded some may have escaped. 89. US officials said several hundred enemy fighters were killed in Operation Anaconda, while admitting that small groups may have escaped the attempted encirclement. 90. It was pronounced a success by commanders, although US Major General Frank Hagenbeck warned there were still thousands of enemy fighters at large. |