US-led forces attacked ahead of Afghan anniversary

The US military said the 11,500-strong forces suffered no casualties in the attacks in four provinces on Saturday and Sunday, but one militant was killed.

The insurgent activity in Khost, Paktika, Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces follows the bloodiest period in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001, in which more than 300 people have been killed since the start of August.

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It also came ahead of today's anniversary of the start of US bombing of Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, and during a weekend visit by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who was in neighboring Pakistan for talks yesterday.

A statement from the US military said US-led forces conducting an offensive operation near their base at Khost in the southeast of the country were ambushed by small-arms fire on Saturday but suffered no casualties.

On Sunday, a special forces unit on patrol near its base at Orgun-e in Paktika province engaged a 15-strong militant force, killing one of them in a 30-minute fight after coming under rocket-grenade and small-arms fire.