SIX children were crushed to death by a collapsing wall during an assault by US forces on a weapons compound in eastern Afghanistan, an American military spokesman said yesterday.

Six children have been killed during an assault by US forces on a compound in eastern Afghanistan, the second time in a week that civilians have died in action against Taliban and al-Qaida suspects.

Hundreds of US soldiers launched an air assault in eastern Afghanistan today, part of a new operation the US military is calling its biggest since the fall of the hardline Taliban regime two years ago.

Hats and shoes littered a blood-stained field in a desolate Afghan village in the aftermath of an attack by a US warplane targeting a terror suspect that mistakenly killed nine children.

Military officials in the United States were today investigating what caused a Black Hawk helicopter carrying 13 soldiers to crash during a training mission in upstate New York.

Two new attacks were reported today on US-led forces in Afghanistan - part of an upsurge in fighting now warmer weather has made it easier for fighters to move around the mountainous terrain.

Gunmen have attacked US coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, touching off a firefight that lasted several hours.

Advancing coalition forces today claimed control of the Shah-e-Kot valley in eastern Afghanistan, sweeping all but a few small groups of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters as allied troops worked their way through the warren of mountain caves.

Hundreds of US and allied Afghan fighters swept into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan today, moving tanks into position for a final push to eradicate al-Qaida fighters making a last stand.

Hundreds of weary US soldiers descended from the Afghan mountains after a gruelling eight-day battle against enemy holdouts. US bombers pounded the caves where the remaining fighters were hiding.

US fighter jets pounded the mountains of eastern Afghanistan today, unleashing a massive barrage intended to wipe out any remnants of al-Qaida fugitives hiding in the region’s caves.