Gunships taken out of fight by tribesman

Reinforcement helicopters have been called into the fight in Afghanistan after the most feared aerial weapons were knocked out of action by Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.

Many have had to been taken out of front-line service by small arms fire from the trapped fighters.

Five US marine corps Apaches have been sent to join the battle near Gardez, reinforcing the US aerial force. No Apaches were shot down in the fighting south of Kabul, but a number were hit by enough ground fire to require repairs, officials said.

At the Pentagon, officials showed the first gun camera footage of air strikes in the US offensive, dubbed Operation Anaconda, which began last Friday.

It showed two F-16 jets striking dug-in enemy positions in the mountainous terrain, where US and allied forces are battling hundreds of fighters from the al-Qaida terror network and the former ruling Taliban militia.

Air Force Brigadier General John Rosa said the US offensive was making progress. ‘‘I would say we are softening up in certain portions, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re far from over.’’