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Fighting continues in southern Afghanistan with heavy aircraft called in to pound cave positions in northern Helmand Province, military officials report. Late Feb. 12, a US B-52 bomber dropped a 2,000-pound joint direct- attack munition "smart" bomb and an AC-130 gunship fired about 10 105 mm cannon rounds at the caves, a U.S. military spokesman said this morning from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

Three men were "brought under control" after trying to evade US military forces in the area, the spokesman said. Published media reports have stated the night air attacks caused as many as 17 civilian casualties, but U.S. Central Command and Pentagon officials say this is not the case.

"Battle damage assessment conducted in support of Operation Eagle Fury has not indicated any noncombatant casualties to date," the spokesman in Bagram said. "Aircraft were directed at targets that were firing at U.S. forces."

Sporadic fighting has been going on in the area since Feb. 10. [ANN Thanks Kathleen T. Rhem, American Forces Press Service]

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