U.S. fighter jets and helicopters bombed suspected Taliban hideouts Thursday in Afghanistan’s rugged southern mountains following intense battles between the insurgents and Afghan troops, officials said. The troops were trying to flush out the Taliban from Zabul province when the guerrillas attacked with heavy machine guns in the Chinaran mountains, Haji Granai, an Afghan military commander, told The Associated Press by satellite telephone from Chinaran. Khalil Hotak, chief of provincial intelligence, said the fighting lasted four hours with the Taliban guerrillas entrenched in a gorge, making it difficult for the Afghan and coalition forces to move against them. Five Taliban bodies were found in a bunker, and four Afghan soldiers were wounded, he said. Full Story