In the first fighting of a new anti-terror operation, American and Afghan troops clashed with two small bands of enemy forces in a mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan, killing one and causing the others to retreat, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
| Probably all the way to Quetta. The rest of them are probably on their way there now... |
"It is the most dangerous terrain we have operated in since we've been in Afghanistan," said U.S. military spokesman Col. Rodney Davis. U.S. helicopter gunships were called in to help the coalition forces in one of the firefights. Coalition forces suffered no casualties during the engagements on Monday, Davis said. Operation Mountain Resolve was launched Friday in the eastern provinces of Nuristan and Kunar with an airdrop by the 10th Mountain Division, apparently targeting elements of a network of insurgents including al-Qaida, the Taliban and forces loyal to renegade warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Coalition troops are operating alongside Afghan militia.
| Not the Afghan regulars. Wonder if they bussed in some Tadjiks and Uzbeks to keep them from fighting each other up north? |
A specific goal is to destroy anti-coalition elements and disrupt their ability to operate or seek sanctuary in an area of eastern Afghanistan that is about 95 miles northeast of Kabul. "The coalition wants to establishing blocking positions to prevent the enemy from escaping, to destroy and recover identified anti-coalition forces' weapons and ammunition," Davis said. Coalition forces also aim to gather intelligence on insurgents, he said.
"Mahmoud! Did you bring your truncheon?"
"Yessir!"
"Go gather some intelligence!" |
Mountain Resolve "will last as long as it takes to achieve operational objectives," Davis said. He refused to provide details about the manpower or the equipment being used, except to say that helicopter gunships and naval forces were available to support the ground forces.
In a separate battle, unrelated to the anti-terror operation, a coalition patrol clashed with six enemy soldiers in southern Afghanistan on Monday near Margah, Paktika province, killing one and capturing two. The three others retreated toward the Pakistan border, Davis said. No coalition forces were hurt. |