Helicopter gunships fired rockets into mountainous rebel redoubts. Refugees streamed from remote villages. Bearded Islamic guerrillas crept along steep ridges, rocket-propelled grenades at the ready.

The scenes were reminiscent of Russia's unhappy war in Chechnya, a rebellious province that has been independent in all but name since Russian troops pulled out three years ago. But these took place over the weekend in Dagestan, another troubled Russian province that borders Chechnya.

Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin flew to the region Sunday to organize a Russian counterattack against "bandits" ...

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