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U.S. soldier wounded in fierce firefight

By Martin Savidge and Barbara Starr
CNN

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A firefight between al Qaeda and Taliban fighters and U.S., coalition and friendly Afghan troops in a mountainous region in southern Afghanistan left one U.S. Special Forces soldier wounded and 15 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters dead.

The fighting broke out Wednesday as coalition troops raided two suspected al Qaeda and Taliban compounds near Hazar Qadam, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of Kandahar. Military personnel coming back from the fighting said it was an all-out battle, putting it in a different light from the skirmish it was described as earlier.

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The U.S. soldier's injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Military officials said the battle reached the skies as well, with at least one AC-130 gunship destroying an ammunition and weapons cache.

Sources told CNN it is "likely" that aerial bombing will be conducted in coming days to destroy the compounds.

"There is a potential for further action," Gen. Richard Myers said at a Pentagon briefing in Washington.

Military officials said the U.S. troops killed 15 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters and captured 26 others, who were taken to Kandahar and placed in detention.

Initially, it was believed that the compounds contained remnants of al Qaeda forces, Myers said. However, once the raids were completed, it appeared that the fighters were mostly Taliban, "but we're still sorting that out," he said. He didn't know whether any Taliban leaders were among the fighters.

There are now 297 detainees in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, he said.

Special Forces units have been conducting ground patrols in recent days in eastern Afghanistan and other areas, scouring caves, hideouts and villages for pockets of Taliban and al Qaeda resistance.

The units have destroyed large amounts of ammunition and weapons discovered throughout the region, and have provided ground intelligence for airstrike targeting.