Operation Mountain Lion enters 2nd day

Source URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C04%5C14%5Cstory_14-4-2006_pg7_39
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/1422

KABUL: Thousands of Afghan and coalition troops backed by US and British warplanes continued strikes on Thursday against a known insurgent area in the second day of Operation Mountain Lion, while in separate incidents, a suspected militant was killed and a rocket struck the country’s defence compound.

About 2,500 troops launched Operation Mountain Lion on Wednesday with a series of pre-dawn air and ground assaults in Kunar province, in one of the allied forces’ biggest campaigns since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban regime. The operation started in Kunar’s Pech River Valley, “an area notorious for terrorist activity” and was aimed at “disrupting insurgents’ activities, denying them sanctuary and preventing their ability to re-supply”, the US military said in a statement.

Coalition air forces were providing 24-hour support to troops, according to a separate air force statement. F-15 Eagle fighter jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground support planes and massive B-52 heavy bombers were “providing close-air support for troops on the ground who are rooting out insurgent sanctuaries and support networks,” it said.

Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers were also providing combat support and Global Hawk and Predator unmanned aerial vehicle aircraft were supplying intelligence and surveillance information.

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