The Afghan capital has come under a second attack by US-led forces within the last hour, with one large explosion heard after a jet overflew the city, residents are reported as saying.
They said the explosion around 1.15 am (21.45 Irish Time) seemed to be centred on the Kabul airport and was larger than most heard in the air and missile attacks some four hours earlier.
Earlier this evening US and British forces launched missile attacks against Afghanistan. Details of the strike were confirmed by President Bush who made his announcement in a televised address to the nation as explosions rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul.
US-led forces fired some 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles and used 40 aircraft to blast terrorist-related targets, the United States' top-ranking military officer said. "Some 15 land-based bombers, some 25 flight aircraft from carriers and US and British submarines launching approximately 50 Tomahawk missiles were used to hit terrorist targets," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers told a Pentagon briefing.
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President George Bush announcing that the US and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan, in the Treaty Room of the White House in Washington
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CNN also reported military strikes on the airport in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar and near the airport of Jalalabad in the east.
The United States had vowed to attack the Taliban regime in Afghanistan unless it handed over Islamic militant Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network, wanted for the September 11 terrorist onslaught on the United States.
"On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan," President Bush said.
"These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime," he said.
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A US defense official said cruise missiles struck terrorist camps, air bases and air defense installations in Afghanistan as the start of a series of military actions against the Taliban.
"It's going to be shake and bake until we smoke them out," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
US officials issued a dire warning to US citizens telling them that military strikes underway in Afghanistan could lead to terrorist strikes against Americans and American interests abroad.
"This action may result in strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against US citizens and interests throughout the world by terrorists and those who are sympathetic to or otherwise support terrorism," a State Department statement said.
President Bush said British forces participated in the operation and other allies, including Canada, Australia, Germany and France, have pledged to contribute as the action unfolds.
"The battle is now joined on many fronts," Bush said. "We will not waiver, we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."
Several loud explosions were heard in the Afghan capital Kabul tonight and electricity supplies were cut, residents of the city reported.
They said they could hear Taliban artillery, anti-aircraft and small arms fire in what sounded like an outbreak of fighting on the streets of the city.
President Bush said he gave the Taliban a series of demands to close all terrorist training camps, hand over leaders of the al-Qaeda network and return all foreign nationals, including US citizens, detained in Afghanistan.
"None of these demands were met. And now the Taliban will pay a price," the president said. "By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans."
"Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground," he said.
At least two US aircraft-carrier battle groups are near Afghanistan, with two more on the way, along with a landing force of some 4,400 Marines and 350 military aircraft. US and British special forces troops are also reportedly in the area, and unconfirmed press reports said they have already been scouting inside Afghanistan.
About 1,000 soldiers of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division are in neighboring Uzbekistan, available for search and rescue missions. The division's soldiers are specially trained for difficult terrain and cold weather, conditions they might encounter in Afghanistan.
A British task force of about 23,000 has deployed to Oman for previously scheduled military exercises there, and could be available for any strike.
AFP