Some 200 Italian mountain infantry (Alpini), took part in their first operation. American, Afghan and Italian troops went to the Pakistan border in southeast Afghanistan for Operation Unified Venture. No weapons or hostile fighters were found.
In the west, around Kandahar, Taliban fired on several demining vehicles. Nearly all the deminers are Afghan. There were several clashes with Taliban around Kandahar, and one Taliban leader was wounded and arrested. The Taliban are basically tribal fighters who believe the strict version of Islam enforced by the Taliban is still the way to rule Afghanistan. This fight over which tribe's customs shall be imposed on everyone is an ancient one in Afghanistan.