U.S. soldier wounded in Afghan firefight

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Nearly a day after declaring victory in a sustained battle with Taliban and al Qaeda fighters, coalition forces came under attack overnight Wednesday in the eastern Afghan town of Khowst, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said.

One U.S. soldier was wounded in the firefight, an official said, but his injury was not life-threatening.

"We don't know who exactly fired at us or why," Maj. Brian Hilferty said.

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The coalition forces in Khowst were fired upon by machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, Hilferty said. The coalition troops returned fire and are "continuing to develop the situation," he said.

The forward operating base at Khowst is a major logistics and supply area for U.S. Special Forces and coalition units fighting in eastern Afghanistan.

Hilferty said the forces who opened fire could be some of the same fighters who took part in the earlier battle, dubbed Operation Anaconda, but it was not clear.

U.S. troops called in an AC-130 gunship to attack the enemy positions. A B-1 bomber also was called in to illuminate the area with flares. U.S. soldiers at the base perimeter fired back with machine guns and mortars.

Officials said the area was now quiet, and military troops are investigating to determine the number of enemy fighters.

Military officials said the attack is an indication that small groups of al Qaeda remain active throughout Afghanistan.

Operation Anaconda -- the largest U.S.-led ground offensive since the Persian Gulf War -- ended Tuesday as American and Canadian forces pulled out of the Shah-e-kot Valley region in eastern Afghanistan.

Hilferty said Anaconda was a "great success for the coalition in the fight against terrorism." He also stressed that the war in Afghanistan is not over and probably will continue for some time.

CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr contributed to this report.