Al-Qaeda Gearing up for Spring Offensive

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 21, 2002

Al-Qaeda Gearing up for Spring Offensive

Less than a day after declaring their biggest ground battle in the five-month Afghan war over, U.S. commanders warned Wednesday that al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters are trying to rebuild their forces.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Less than a day after declaring their biggest ground battle in the five-month Afghan war over, U.S. commanders warned Wednesday that al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters are trying to rebuild their forces.

The commander of Operation Anaconda, Army Maj. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck, said intelligence data show well-outfitted fighters already are moving to regroup in the eastern province of Paktia. He predicted increased enemy activity as the weather improves.

It's clear that U.S. forces continue to face dangers.

Just after midnight Tuesday, forces suspected to be al-Qaeda and Taliban fired on American and Afghan soldiers in the southeastern province of Khost.

Three allied Afghan fighters were killed, and one U.S. soldier was wounded in an arm.

As for al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, "I can tell you there are al-Qaeda operatives in Paktia right now who are going to great lengths to try to regroup or regenerate," Hagenbeck said.

"They are also spending a lot of money to regroup," he told the Associated Press at Bagram air base near Kabul.

Most of Afghanistan is celebrating Persian New Year Wednesday for the first time in years-- the Taliban banned the festival in 1996. But in the eastern provinces about 100 miles from the capital, Kabul, the conflict appears far from over, morphing instead into a guerrilla battle by roving bands of armed militants apparently willing to fight to the death.

About 1,700 British troop reinforcements are expected to begin arriving at Bagram air base today to prepare for new offensives against al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in April.

With the winter snows on the Hindu Kush mountains melting fast, the U.S. military fears al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters might accelerate their attacks. Spring foliage provides cover to fighters during what some Afghans nickname "the killing season."

"This is traditionally the campaigning season, the end of March and into April and somewhat into May," Hagenbeck told the Associated Press Wednesday.

Questions?Comments? Click here

23 Afghans, Americans Killed, Wounded in Battle Against Al-Qaeda Members

Senior Al-Qaeda Official Captured in Sudan: Washington Post

Iran Rejects US Accusation of Link to al-Qaeda