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WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2002 – Three U.S. camps in Afghanistan came under Taliban and/or al Qaeda fire Nov. 24. There were no U.S. casualties in any of the incidents.
In the first incident, the U.S. outpost at Gardez came under machinegun and rocket attack. The fire came from about 200 meters from the camp. U.S. personnel called for close-air support, but before the aircraft arrived the firing stopped. In the second incident, the camp at Lwara came under rocket fire. Ten rockets impacted within the base confines. Nine of them carried white phosphorus. These weapons are particularly nasty because white phosphorus continues to burn until it disappears. If service members are hit by pieces of white phosphorus, it could burn right down to the bone. The rockets started three fires in the camp that personnel quickly put out. U.S. personnel called on close-air support and the stand-by quick reaction force. An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt dropped a 500-pound bomb on the suspected launch site. In the third incident, a rocket impacted at the U.S. base in Khowst. Two U.S. trucks were damaged. U.S. officials said the actions indicate the situation in the country is still dangerous.
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