U.S. launches Desert Lion in Afghanistan
By Anwar Iqbal
From the International Desk
Published 3/28/2003 2:15 PM
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WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- U.S. forces have launched a second
major operation in Afghanistan as part of their efforts to comb the
country's caves and mountains for the remnants of al-Qaida and
Taliban fighters, the U.S. Central Command announced Friday.
"Operation Desert Lion kicked off Thursday when coalition task
force 82 conducted an air assault into the Kohe Safi Mountains in
northeastern Afghanistan," the statement said.
"Operation Desert Lion" comes as hundreds of U.S. soldiers search
for the Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in former Taliban stronghold
of southern Kandahar province. The "Operation Valiant Strike" in
Kandahar was launched almost simultaneously with the Iraq
war.
On the second day of the "Operation Desert Lion," troops from the
2nd battalion, 505th parachute infantry regiment discovered two
caches that included 25 107 mm rockets, 72 122 mm mortar rounds, 40
82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, 100 82 mm mortar rounds, and 122
cases of 12.7 mm machine gun ammunition, along with numerous fuses.
The caches were blown in place, CENTCOM said.
Coalition task force 82 soldiers discovered a cache in Orgun
province on Thursday, following a tip from two Afghan citizens. The
cache included 24 82 mm mortar rounds, 22 82 mm fuses, 17 rocket
propelled grenade boosters, 15 82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, along
with multiple cases of 14.5 mm and 12.7 mm machine gun ammunition,
as well as powder-based explosives.
A U.S. military spokesman told reporters at the Bagram airbase,
near Kabul, that so far U.S. troops have made no arrests during
"Operation Desert Lion." Valiant Strike has resulted in the arrest
of several people and the discovery of large amounts of weapons and
ammunition
Thousands of U.S. and allied troops are searching Afghanistan for
Osama bin Laden and members of his al-Qaida network, prime suspects
in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the U.S. military office at Bagram
airbase said the 7th battalion of the Afghan national army
graduated more than 600 soldiers on Thursday at the Kabul military
training center.
This battalion will provide soldiers to bring the first two
battalions up to full strength. The graduation brings the total
Afghan national army numbers to more than 3,000 soldiers.
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