Afghanistan: May 17, 2002

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Mullah Omar, the head of the Taliban, has given an interview for an Arab newspaper. Omar says American forces in Afghanistan are doomed and that the Taliban will return to power. This statement, if true, was not unexpected. 

An Australian SAS patrol was ambushed in southeast Afghanistan. The SAS called in air strikes and additional allied ground troops were sent to the area. Ten Afghans on an isolated ridgeline were killed by allied aircraft. Local Afghans said the men were part of a wedding party celebrating by firing their weapons in the air. Allied commanders say the men were firing their weapons at the Australians.