Major offensive in eastern Afghanistan 'successful'

The largest military operation in the past four years against Taliban and al-Qaida militants has been completed in Afghanistan’s eastern mountains, US and Afghan officials said today.

Some 2,500 troops participated in Operation Mountain Lion, which was launched in mid-April in Kunar province to combat an upsurge in attacks by militant supporters of the hard-line Taliban regime ousted by US-led forces in late 2001.