Coalition denies US troops killed
(Updated at 1530 PST)
ISLAMABAD The Coalition Information Service in Islamabad on Saturday denied reports in
some Pakistani newspapers that 35 US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan last week and their
bodies taken to Pakistan.
The Coalition Information Service noted that the reports, which were not attributed to any
source, "were typical of false stories of coalition military losses which have appeared in the
Pakistan press in recent weeks."
The Coalition Information Service also categorically denied press reports that coalition forces
have used chemical or biological weapons within Afghanistan.
Comment: THIS WAS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU GOT YOUR'S SHANNON . WHY WOULD YOU NOT POST THIS TOO......WERE YOU *WISHING* ???
John O'Neal
At 05:06 PM 11/25/2001 -0500, you wrote:
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2001-daily/24-11-2001/main/main7.htm
Taliban kill 35 US troops
By Ajmad Bashir Siddiqi
Saturday November 24, 2001-- Ramadan 08,1422 A.H
KARACHI: At least 35 personnel of the US Special Forces were killed and many injured in an attack by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, sources told The News on Friday.
The sources said 35 bodies have arrived at Jacobabad Airbase, where heavy activity is being witnessed as the US helicopters are busy bringing in bodies and injured from Afghanistan. The Pentagon and the Centcom are very much perturbed over this development and there are reports of immediate measures being contemplated to counter the situation.
The sources said 10 C-130s are ready to dispatch the bodies to the US. According to sources, the action, which began on Thursday was also backed by helicopter gunships. The US had launched attack against Taliban and al-Qaeda members but were caught by surprise and had to withdraw quickly. The US Embassy and Army sources were tight-lipped about the incident. It is one of the heaviest casualties, suffered by the US Army in one action since they launched attacks against the Taliban.
The reported killing of 35 US troops appears to be action similar to the previous aborted US heli-borne action carried out in mid-October in which the attacking US troops got pinned down in the face of severe hostile enemy fire. The US troops were caught by surprise. So intense was the attack that the Special Forces personnel had to quickly withdraw without any operational achievement. In that attack one US helicopter crashed in Afghanistan while another 'hit' chopper later crashed along with troops and crew in Pakistan.
