Since April 11, Afghan and U.S. troops have been conducting Operation Mountain Lion in Afghanistan's mountainous eastern Kunar province against Taliban and al-Qaida remnants in the Korengal Valley.
Night helicopter operations were used to insert Afghan and coalition forces at strategic points as ground troops mopped up through the valley's entrance.
Xinhua reported on May 17 that Operation Mountain Lion was the largest joint Afghan-U.S. military operation to date.
U.S. military spokesman Thomas Collins told at a press briefing, "The Coalition and Afghan National Army completed Operation Mountain Lion this week in eastern Afghanistan very successfully. Mountain Lion was very successful.
"We captured plenty oo the enemy's (weapons) caches. A number of enemies were killed and captured but I do not have the exact number. This operation denied the enemy sanctuary and safe haven but it also improved the lives of the Afghan people through road construction, irrigation, medical and education projects."
When asked about U.S. casualties Collins replied, "There were some coalition casualties," but did not elaborate. During Operation Mountain Lion a U.S. military CH-47 helicopter crashed on May 5, killing all 10 occupants. The Taliban claimed that they shot down the helicopter, a charge refuted by the Pentagon.
Source: United Press International
