100 dead as US plan mountain operation

US forces are currently plotting a large mountain operation in Afghanistan after targeting the area from the air.

US special forces have been flown into Eastern Afghanistan in an attempt to take over the area and to capture Osama bin Laden.

The 20 troops were flown into Jalalabad in two helicopters.

Over the past three nights of US air strikes near Jalalabad, nearly 100 Afghan civilians have been killed, according to the provincial military chief.

Commander Haji Mohammad Zaman said the bombs targeted an area south of Jalalabad near the Tora Bora mountain cave complex where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

Commander Zaman, who directs the military operations in the Nangarhar province, said the first night of bombings left nearly 80 civilians dead and 150 wounded.

The second night killed eight civilians and wounded 18, he said, and the third night claimed eight lives and left many people injured.