Troops from the US 10th Mountain Division, Special Operations Forces and air forces along with Afghan militiamen were taking part in Operation "Mountain Resolve", in a mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan. They clashed with two small bands of enemy forces on the 10th, killing one and causing the others to retreat. US helicopter gunships were called in to help during one of the firefights.
The operation, which began with an air assault on November 7, is taking place on snow-covered slopes around 13,000 feet above sea level in what has been described by one US spokesman as "the most dangerous terrain we have operated in since we've been in Afghanistan''.
They are targeting elements of Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and forces loyal to renegade warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Former prime minister Hekmatyar has called for a jihad against foreign troops in Afghanistan, but so far has eluded US efforts to arrest or kill him. - Adam Geibel
A car bomb went off near UN headquarters in Kandahar, wounding one person.