Rockets and small arms fire hit a US military base in southeastern Afghanistan today, prompting the Americans to respond with bombing by attack aircraft.

US forces have launched a large-scale operation in southeastern Afghanistan aimed at Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.

Coalition forces detained four men after several rocket-propelled grenades were fired at a US special operations forces base in eastern Afghanistan, a US military spokesman said today.

British marines stormed a compound in an Afghan village, captured more than 10 armed men and found rooms piled high with mortars, rockets and heavy weapons they said may have belonged to al Qaida or the Taliban.

British troops have found indications that Taliban and al Qaida fighters may be sneaking back into the area they fled last month during the US-led Operation Anaconda.

The US has admitted it has lost track of Osama Bin Laden, a month after believing he was trapped in caves.