LANDI KOTEL, Oct 9: The US and British forces fired three cruise missiles on Taliban’s military installations in the eastern city of Jalalabad last night.

Informed sources told Dawn on Monday that two war planes also bombed the Al Qaeda network in Tora Bora, some 40km south of Jalalabad, abutting on Pakistan border.

Sources said that the first cruise missile landed at Jalalabad airport at around 2120 hours. The missiles pierced through an isolated area some 200 yards outside the airport, without causing damage.

Another missile hit the cantonment area at 2125 hours. Third one targeted the 81 brigade headquarter, located at Hada Sharif.

Two fighter planes bombed the 11 division headquarters in Sammer Khel and the Al Qaeda hideouts in Tora Bora, respectively. The Taliban ground forces retaliated with anti-aircraft guns.

Sources said that the Arab nationals had already left the hideout and moved out to some unidentified places.

Quoting local residents, sources claimed that in the early hours, four coalition planes dropped food packets in the areas encompassing Jalalabad. According to initial reports no casualty was reported anywhere from the city.

The midnight sorties caused tension and panic among the city residents, fleeing for shelter in the villages.