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US forces launch new operation in east Afghanistan

KABUL : US troops in Afghanistan have launched a new operation in two eastern provinces in an effort to eliminate holdouts of Taliban fighters in the border area across Pakistan, a military spokesman said here on Thursday.

The operation, coded Warrior Sweep, is deliberately planned with the participation of conventional combat troops from the US-led military coalition and the new Afghan national army, US Army Colonel Rodney Davis told a press conference in Kabul.

"Forces are currently interdicting illegal checkpoints along the commercial route between Khost and Paktia provinces," the spokesman said. The operation started on Tuesday when Italian troops of the coalition stationed at a forward operating base in Ghost began a ground movement on the route between Khost and Gardez, capital cities of the two provinces.

Coalition troops expanded into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan near Shahi Kowt in Paktia province early Wednesday morning, Davis said, adding that soldiers of US Army's 82nd Airborne Division air-assaulted into the mountains south of Gardez to clear the positions of the Taliban.

But he gave no information on whether there was exchange of fire between coalition forces and suspected Taliban fighters. "The coalition will, when necessary, undertake combat operations to meet objectives in the war against terrorism, and to support the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan," Davis said.

According to the spokesman, some 1,000 soldiers of Afghanistan' s new national army moved into Zormat Valley of Paktia province on Tuesday prior to the air assault.

The Afghan troops are searching the area for enemy forces and providing civil and humanitarian assistance to local people, he said.

Davis said on Wednesday that Operation Warrior Sweep marks the first major combat operation of Afghanistan's fledgling national army.

Meanwhile, Davis said that two rockets were fired at a US military base in the eastern province of Kunar overnight, but caused no casualties.


	US forces launch new operation in east Afghanistan KABUL : US troops in Afghanistan have launched a new operation in two eastern provinces in an effort to eliminate holdouts of Taliban fighters in the border area across Pakistan, a military spokesman said here on Thursday. The operation, coded Warrior Sweep, is deliberately planned with the participation of conventional combat troops from the US-led military coalition and the new Afghan national army, US Army Colonel Rodney Davis told a press conference in Kabul. "Forces are currently interdicting illegal checkpoints along the commercial route between Khost and Paktia provinces," the spokesman said. The operation started on Tuesday when Italian troops of the coalition stationed at a forward operating base in Ghost began a ground movement on the route between Khost and Gardez, capital cities of the two provinces. Coalition troops expanded into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan near Shahi Kowt in Paktia province early Wednesday morning, Davis said, adding that soldiers of US Army's 82nd Airborne Division air-assaulted into the mountains south of Gardez to clear the positions of the Taliban. But he gave no information on whether there was exchange of fire between coalition forces and suspected Taliban fighters. "The coalition will, when necessary, undertake combat operations to meet objectives in the war against terrorism, and to support the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan," Davis said. According to the spokesman, some 1,000 soldiers of Afghanistan' s new national army moved into Zormat Valley of Paktia province on Tuesday prior to the air assault. The Afghan troops are searching the area for enemy forces and providing civil and humanitarian assistance to local people, he said. Davis said on Wednesday that Operation Warrior Sweep marks the first major combat operation of Afghanistan's fledgling national army. Meanwhile, Davis said that two rockets were fired at a US military base in the eastern province of Kunar overnight, but caused no casualties.
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