Weary troops return

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- Hundreds of U.S. soldiers, weary from a grueling eight-day battle against enemy holdouts, returned to base from the Afghan mountains Sunday, but it was unclear whether the battle was drawing to a close.

About 400 U.S. troops returned to the Bagram air base north of Kabul on Sunday in wave after wave of CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

"We're home!" the soldiers shouted, offering high-fives to elated colleagues. A few shook their heads in disbelief, grateful they had made it out alive.