December 8, 2001	Saturday	Ramazan 22, 1422

CAMP RHINO, Dec 7: US Marine patrols killed seven “enemy forces” on Thursday night in the first ground attack since they seized a base in southern Afghanistan almost two weeks ago, officers said on Friday.

“Last evening we successfully engaged enemy forces along road networks near Kandahar, killing seven and destroying three vehicles,” Marine Captain David T. Romley told reporters.

Romley said the enemy dead were either Taliban or their allies in the Al Qaeda network. There were no US casualties, he added.

“This event marks our first offensive ground operation since seizing this operating base on Nov 25,” he said.—Reuters