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Frustrated marines track enemy to hills
By Sean Rayment near Khost (Filed:05/05/2002)
BRITISH commandos have begun the most dangerous phase of their mission to track down elusive al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the rugged mountains of south-eastern Afghanistan.
A 1,000-strong force of Royal Marines, American and Afghan troops has been sweeping through a vast area of "fantastically difficult" terrain as part of Operation Snipe for several days, it was confirmed yesterday.
The assault is the largest deployment of British troops since Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf conflict and is the single biggest military operation of the Afghan War.
The operation involves scaling mountain peaks at altitudes of up to 13,000ft to confront an estimated 1,000 enemy fighters in fortified positions.
So far, however, the Marines have made no contact with the fighters, who are adept at disappearing into the mountains when they spot advancing troops.
One officer said:
"We believe they are in the area but we are having a problem making contact with the enemy because when they see us coming they jump in their trucks and drive away.It's very frustrating but if they will not stand and fight there is little we can do at this stage."
Since the operation began, the only indication that enemy forces have been in the area is the discovery in the past two days of more than 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Military commanders believe that their tactics will eventually force al-Qaeda and Taliban forces to surrender, fight or flee towards the Pakistan border.
If they head towards the border, they will be ambushed by troops from the US 101st Airborne Division in a pincer movement attack.
British commanders running Operation Snipe were yesterday brushing aside the discovery from their American counterparts that a snipe hunt in the United States is the British equivalent of a wild goose chase.
It is understood that reconnaissance troops, from 3 Commando Brigade, are moving ahead of the main body of troops.
If and when they spot any enemy activity they will call forward the close combat companies of 45 Commando who will be tasked with taking out the enemy.
The operation began in secret last weekend when the reconnaissance element deployed at night to search for potential enemy locations 40 miles from the border with Pakistan.
A fleet of Chinook helicopters ferried troops from Bagram air base deep into the mountains as American Apache gunships provided cover on their flanks.
The Marines have covered 20 per cent of the ground they have been ordered to clear and secure.
Progress will be slow, however, as most movement will be carried out on foot by men at altitudes of more than 10,000ft, carrying packs weighing more than 150lb.
According to one officer at Bagram air base, a real fear is beginning to develop that the Afghan war may develop into an endless and costly Vietnam-style conflict.
The Royal Marine said: "Don't mention Vietnam in front of the Americans - the parallels are too close for comfort.
"We are now in a position of fighting a counter- revolutionary war against small numbers of heavily armed troops who in some cases have the full support of the local population - exactly the same scenario as Vietnam."
題名には必ず「阿修羅さんへ」と記述してください。