Sat Mar 2, 1:52 PM ET
By KATHY GANNON, Associated Press Writer
GARDEZ, Afghanistan (AP) - U.S. warplanes and Afghan fighters backed by U.S. Special Forces launched a major attack Saturday on Taliban and al-Qaida forces regrouping in eastern Afghanistan. Defenders fought back with heavy weapons, and the Pentagon said one American was killed and others were injured.
Military officials, speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, gave no further details on the U.S. casualties except to say "a number" were injured. They said two Afghan fighters also were killed and an unknown number injured.
Afghan sources said the attackers ran into heavy artillery, mortar and heavy machine gun fire and it appeared the U.S. and Afghan forces made little headway on the first day of the offensive.
