At least 8 U.S. soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan

By Pauline Jelinek

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – As many as nine American soldiers have died in a U.S.-led assault in Afghanistan – eight killed when troops on two helicopters took enemy fire in the largest offensive of the five-month war against terrorists, Pentagon officials said today.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said enemy forces had sustained “much larger numbers of killed and wounded, and there will be many more.” He said the assault would continue. Another Pentagon official estimated at least 100 al-Qaida or Taliban fighters had died, possibly many more.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said al-Qaida fighters were in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, well dug-in, well-fortified and with “lots of weapons.”

“We knew that al-Qaida would have two choices, to run or stay and fight,” Myers said. “It seems they have chosen to stay and fight to the last, and we hope to accommodate them.”

Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of U.S. Central Command, said eight or nine Americans were killed in the engagements – the exact number was not yet clear. “The fog of war will persist until we are able to have discussions with people who have been involved in this fight,” he said.

He said the allied force of about 2,000 soldiers – close to half of them Afghans, the rest U.S. and coalition soldiers – was “making good progress as we speak.”

But he also said the war had entered a phase of even greater danger, with large numbers of U.S. troops engaged in ground operations that were often left before to Afghan allies.

“Any time one has a higher concentration of force on the ground, one can anticipate higher casualties,” he said.

Officials said one American was killed when a helicopter, low to the ground, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, made a hard landing and then managed to take off again. The grenade apparently bounced off the helicopter and did not explode. The soldier who died may have been knocked out of the helicopter by the force.

Franks said a Chinook helicopter arrived in the area and came under fire but managed to land and discharge troops. They were immediately fired on by the enemy, he said, and some Americans were killed.

Pentagon officials initially said the second helicopter crashed from being fired upon; Franks said it actually may have been a crash landing.

Franks said the U.S. side had taken some prisoners but he did not know whether they were combatants or civilians.

The deadly battle prompted the Pentagon to do what it has avoided in the past – estimating the number of enemy dead. Franks said 100 to 200 were believed killed but it could be much higher.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush considered the continuing operation “highly successful in military terms.”

Bush “mourns the loss of any American life,” Fleischer said. “The president has said to our country that we need to be prepared for casualties.”

At least 40 American troops were wounded in the exchanges, which occurred in an operation started Friday against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban believed regrouping near Gardez in eastern Afghanistan.

Rumsfeld said the casualties, including wounded, had been evacuated from the region. He said half of the wounded were already back in the fight.

The Chinook helicopter, normally used to ferry special forces troops and supplies, was attacked on its way to the battle near Gardez.

A U.S. soldier was killed Saturday. The seven or eight killed in the helicopter attacks represented the largest death toll from one engagement. There have been accidental crashes of other craft since the anti-terror campaign opened Oct. 7, including one in which seven Marines were killed when a tanker plane crashed in Pakistan.

The battle involved the largest coalition force assembled so far in the campaign – combining troops from America, Afghanistan and at least six other nations. They engaged hundreds of al-Qaida and Taliban in intense fire fights backed by airstrikes.

Rumsfeld said because of the efforts of al-Qaida fighters and their leaders to regroup inside Afghanistan, “this will not be the last such operation in Afghanistan.”

Asked whether the United States would send in additional military reinforcements to aid the assault, Rumsfeld said: “Whatever it takes.” He would not provide details.

Since the assault began Friday, the United States has dropped more than 350 bombs, Myers said.

The U.S. ground troops and pilots are operating in a mountainous area at elevations between 8,000 and 11,000 feet, Rumsfeld said. Myers said it was cold, icy and snowy “like the Rocky Mountains in the middle of the winter.”

“The higher you go, it gets thinner for flight operations,” Myers said. Some helicopters are operating at the edge of their capabilities, he said.

The al-Qaida and Taliban fighters near Gardez are equipped with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and probably some shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles like the Russian SA-7 and American Stinger, said another defense official, also on condition of anonymity.

Some of the fighters have experience using missiles to shoot down helicopters from the mujahedeen days of fighting the Soviet occupation force in the 1980s, the official said. Many used U.S.-supplied Stinger missiles, some of which remain in Afghanistan.

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.