Operation Mount and Thrust

Coalition cracks down on Taliban

MORE than 10,000 Afghan and coalition forces have begun a massive anti-Taliban operation across southern Afghanistan, the largest offensive since the 2001 invasion that toppled the former regime, the US military said yesterday.

As the offensive began, a bomb ripped through a minibus taking people to work at a coalition-run airport in the southern city of Kandahar, killing 10 of them and wounding 15.

It was the highest civilian death toll in months of regular attacks, most blamed on militants fighting for the extremist Taliban movement, which claimed responsibility for yesterday's attack.

The military offensive - dubbed Operation Mountain Thrust - is part of a major push to squeeze Taliban fighters responsible for a spate of ambushes and suicide attacks.

Who picks the names for these operations? It conjures up all sorts of images of berkas flying everywhere. Hide your camels the Americans are coming! They're hoping to penetrate enemy territory. Looking for a quick withdrawal. Friday the latest on operation Cherry Picker.