thedrifter
03-13-06, 06:34 AM
US hunts militants after attack
US forces say they have detained 11 suspected militants in Afghanistan's Kunar province following an attack in which four US marines were killed.
BBC News
The US military said troops backed by artillery and air support had taken part in operations in the Pech valley.
The marines were on patrol in the valley when a roadside blast ripped through their convoy on Sunday.
It was the deadliest attack on US forces in a month. The frequency of such attacks has been growing.
"The coalition's response has resulted in the detention of 11 insurgents believed responsible for the attack," a US military statement said.
"Operations to kill or capture other extremists, deny them sanctuary and restore stability to the area are continuing."
The statement said the troops killed on Sunday had been "conducting route-clearance operations to keep a road open for civilian and military traffic".
Purported members of the Taleban were quoted by news agencies saying the group's fighters had carried out the attack.
Changing tactics
US soldiers in Afghanistan are part of a coalition task force hunting alleged al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.
Roadside bombings are on the increase and mark a change in tactics in the Afghan insurgency, the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says.
Attacks have continued through the winter - a time when there has been a lull in the past, he says.
Suicide bombings are also on the rise. There have been at least 13 such attacks so far this year, compared with 17 in 2005 and five in 2004, our correspondent adds.
US-led forces have frequently carried out operations in the border region, targeting senior al-Qaeda and other militant leaders suspected to be hiding in the area.
On Friday Afghan authorities said they arrested a leading militant operating in Kunar, Haji Nadir.
On Monday Kunar's governor, Assadullah Wafa, told the BBC that Mr Nadir was a "key al-Qaeda commander" who ran a bomb-making factory in Pakistan's border tribal areas.
Ellie
US forces say they have detained 11 suspected militants in Afghanistan's Kunar province following an attack in which four US marines were killed.
BBC News
The US military said troops backed by artillery and air support had taken part in operations in the Pech valley.
The marines were on patrol in the valley when a roadside blast ripped through their convoy on Sunday.
It was the deadliest attack on US forces in a month. The frequency of such attacks has been growing.
"The coalition's response has resulted in the detention of 11 insurgents believed responsible for the attack," a US military statement said.
"Operations to kill or capture other extremists, deny them sanctuary and restore stability to the area are continuing."
The statement said the troops killed on Sunday had been "conducting route-clearance operations to keep a road open for civilian and military traffic".
Purported members of the Taleban were quoted by news agencies saying the group's fighters had carried out the attack.
Changing tactics
US soldiers in Afghanistan are part of a coalition task force hunting alleged al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.
Roadside bombings are on the increase and mark a change in tactics in the Afghan insurgency, the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says.
Attacks have continued through the winter - a time when there has been a lull in the past, he says.
Suicide bombings are also on the rise. There have been at least 13 such attacks so far this year, compared with 17 in 2005 and five in 2004, our correspondent adds.
US-led forces have frequently carried out operations in the border region, targeting senior al-Qaeda and other militant leaders suspected to be hiding in the area.
On Friday Afghan authorities said they arrested a leading militant operating in Kunar, Haji Nadir.
On Monday Kunar's governor, Assadullah Wafa, told the BBC that Mr Nadir was a "key al-Qaeda commander" who ran a bomb-making factory in Pakistan's border tribal areas.
Ellie