B-52 bombers have pounded a Taliban field headquarters in wave after wave of strikes.
Opposition forces say the bombing appeared directed by US forces on the ground.
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An explosion near the Taliban frontlines yesterday
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The bombardment appeared to be part of increased US cooperation with the opposition Northern Alliance. They hope to push through Taliban defences before the rapidly approaching winter makes ground offensives more difficult.
Across Taliban territory, other US strikes were reported overnight in Kandahar and the front lines surrounding Mazar-e-Sharif.
One huge bomb blasted the abandoned Qara Muheb village that opposition forces said was used as a field command center by the Taliban.
To the south, more B-52s overflew the capital Kabul, drawing Taliban fire.
In Washington, the US Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld confirmed that a small number of US special forces were on the ground helping identify targets for US warplanes and coordinating with the opposition. US officials indicated the US ground deployment was between 100 and 200 men.
"I'd like to see as soon as humanly possible the number of teams go up by three or four times," Mr Rumsfeld said, saying the present size was "nowhere near as many as we need."
US jets had returned to attacks at the capital overnight for the first time since Sunday, striking the outskirts to the north.
Afghanistan's opposition forces have moved more troops and artillery to the front, heartened by the intensifying US bombing.
AP