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Operations Continue in Eastern Afghanistan
Thursday, July 18, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

About 8,000 U.S. service members are in Afghanistan. The number is a bit higher than normal because the 82nd Airborne Division is in the process of relieving the 101st Airborne Division. Defense Department officials said the change of command is going well, but would not forecast an end date.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
U.S. and coalition troops continue the painstaking process of searching eastern Afghanistan for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, Combined Joint Task Force 180 officials said July 18.

Operation Mountain Lion continues in the region with U.S. and coalition forces finding ammunition caches and a Soviet-era armored personnel carrier. They have not found any terrorists. Task force officials noted the area is honeycombed with natural caves and manmade tunnels, many cleverly disguised.

Local Afghan militia forces led a U.S. special operations team to an arms cache in the Tarin Kot area. The team secured thousands of rounds of ammunition, including rocket propelled grenades and mortar rounds.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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