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Search to determine if al Qaeda leader killed

Soldiers look for bodies after Hellfire missile strike

An Air Force Predator carrying a Hellfire missile in a training exercise.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) -- More than 50 U.S. troops from the Army's 101st Airborne Division are searching the site of Monday's Hellfire missile strike in Afghanistan, to determine who was killed in the CIA attack, senior Pentagon officials told CNN Friday.

Pentagon sources say at least three CH-47 helicopters ferried the soldiers to the mountainous site in the Zawar Kili region of southeastern Afghanistan on Friday after several days of bad weather had prevented access.

On Monday, a CIA-operated unmanned spy plane, armed with Hellfire missiles, scored what appeared to be a direct hit on three white-robed men, one of whom was believed to be a senior al Qaeda leader, U.S. officials have told CNN.

The U.S. troops will attempt to recover any remains from the attack, and forensic teams will try to positively identify who was killed.

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So far U.S. officials say they have no indications that Osama bin Laden was among the dead, but that possibility has not been ruled out.

A senior official said the U.S. troops have not yet reported back what they have found, but that their mission would continue, "as long as it takes."

If the site inspection is not completed Friday, the U.S. troops could spend the night at a nearby forward operating base, and resume the search Saturday, officials said.