French capture Afghan valley where 10 troops killed

French capture Afghan valley where 10 troops killed
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:57am EDT

UZBIN VALLEY, Afghanistan, April 10 (Reuters) - French, Afghan and U.S. troops have captured a valley where 10 French soldiers were killed last year in the single biggest combat loss for foreign troops in Afghanistan since 2001.

The 800-strong force marched into the valley, a stronghold of pro-Taliban insurgent leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to set up a base for the Afghan National Army.

U.S. planes thundered overhead, providing air support for a mission that hopes to curb the flow of insurgents towards the capital, Kabul, by cutting off a key mountain pass.

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Soldiers began digging foxholes on the site of the base, which will be permanently occupied by 280 Soldiers of the Afghan National Army and have space for a company of French troops if needed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSSP483204

silly.