WASHINGTON (AP)--Two low-flying AC-130 gunships made successful strikes Monday against Taliban targets in Afghanistan for the first time, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said over 100 strike aircraft were involved in Monday's attacks. .
"Yesterday was a particularly heavy day. Today is another intense day," Newbold said at a Pentagon news conference. He said more than 2,000 bombs and missiles have been used in the 10-day campaign.
Monday's daytime bombardment of Afghanistan was the heaviest yet. U.S. forces struck a dozen targets, including terrorist training camps and Taliban troops and equipment, Newbold said.
A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the AC-130 was used against Taliban military barracks and headquarters buildings at a base in Kandahar, the seat of Taliban power. The official indicated that further use of the gunship against other targets was likely.
The use of the AC-130 marked a new step of the air campaign, aimed directly at the Taliban leadership. Previous raids had targeted air defense and other military facilities with the aim of making the skies safe for low-altitude, slow moving aircraft like the AC-130, a high-fire power aircraft that is typically used to support ground forces trained for small-unit operations. It was the first use of special-forces aircraft in the conflict.
Newbold said the gunship has several advantages: Its slower speed and larger crew means that it can be very precise with its fire to avoid civilian casualties, and can station itself over a target for a long time.
The general also said the AC-130 is "audible" and therefore has a psychological impact.
The AC-130 also flies with other escort aircraft that help protect it from ground fire, Newbold said. |
