The B-52 bombing attacks late Sunday came hours after U-S military commanders withdrew about one-third of the 1,200 U-S forces deployed in the Shah-e-Kot mountains in Paktia province. 

A spokesman for the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, Major Bryan Hilferty, said U.S.-led coalition forces had gained control of large areas of the sprawling battlefield during the past eight days of fighting. He said remaining coalition forces will continue searching caves and bunkers for remnants of the enemy fighting force. 

He declined to say whether the withdrawn American soldiers will be replaced. But he said Operation Anaconda will continue until the last al-Qaida and Taleban fighters are killed or captured. It remains unclear how large an enemy force remains in the region. Official estimates have ranged from several hundred to as many as 1,000. 

Saturday, U.S. aircraft resumed attacking enemy targets after a fierce winter storm subsided in the region. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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