US-led forces resumed bombing and ground attacks to keep al Qaeda rebels trapped in caves in east Afghanistan today in the biggest battle of the war in Afghanistan.
As hundreds of Afghan troop reinforcements gathered for a final assault, their commanders spoke out about offering the besieged rebels a negotiated surrender, an option so far rejected by the United States military on the ground.
US military spokesman Major Bryan Hilferty told reporters fighting had been "very light" overnight and there had been no sustained fire for three days from several hundred al Qaeda fighters holed up in the area.
"We haven't seen much activity," Maj Hilferty told a news conference. "There's been activity, but pretty light over the past 48 hours."
Maj Hilferty said US terms for the end of the battle near Gardez remained unconditional surrender by the rebels or death.
Speaking at Bagram air base on the outskirts of Kabul - control point for "Operation Anaconda" - Maj Hilferty said US and Afghan forces were still inching toward the al Qaeda positions but declined to give specific details.
After driving rain and snow grounded aircraft two days ago, air traffic at Bagram picked up today as clear skies allowed helicopters to re-supply 2,000 coalition troops in the freezing combat zone among mountains that soar up 12,000 feet.
The US says eight of its troops and seven Afghan soldiers have died and there have been about 100 wounded in a push to wipe out a hardened core of al Qaeda.
Maj Hilferty said a number of militants had been captured and were being interrogated.