Land-Based Fighters Join Fight: The United States attacked Taliban positions with land-based fighter bombers for the first time yesterday, as heavy fighting was reported on the ground between Taliban and opposition Northern Alliance forces near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, flying from bases in the Persian Gulf region from which they normally enforce the southern no-fly zone over Iraq, joined dozens of bombers, AC-130 gunships and carrier-based strike aircraft in the 11th day of the air assault. Defense officials said U.S. pilots hit targets in most major Afghan cities.