The Northern Alliance

American bombers strike a Taliban tank on the hill called Tota Khil, according to Northern Alliance troops.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Abdul Zahir, 32, lost his leg to a land mine three years ago, but continues to fight for the Northern Alliance.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

On a regular basis, hundreds of soldiers gather for a meeting of Northern Alliance troops from around the Shomali plain.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Front line soldiers stand guard at Bagram Airbase across the front line from where American bombers have been attacking for the past two days.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

A Northern Alliance soldier at the Bagram air base in Afghanistan.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

A young alliance soldier attends a training meeting in the hills outside Jabal os Saraj and keeps his weapon close at hand.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Pari Jan, age 20, heads towards the Taliban frontline, where she lives with her four children. The metal shipping container at her side blocks the main road leading to Kabul.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Inside their bunker, Abdul Mobin, 20, right, and Siad Ahmad, 22, brew tea and smoke cigarettes while passing the time as frontline fighters for the Northern Alliance in Rabat, Afghanistan.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Abdul Mobin, 20, is a frontline fighter for the Northern Alliance in Rabat, Afghanistan.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)

Merza Khan, left, and comrades eat dinner around a lantern in their post. Khan, age 40, lost one of his legs 12 years ago, but continues to fight as a Northern Alliance soldier.  (CAROLYN COLE / Los Angeles Times)