US launches offensive against Al-Qaida in east-Afghanistan

Hundreds of US-led troops have launched an offensive against Al-Qaida and Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan, while a bomb attack near the capital kills three German nationals.

Hundreds of US-led troops have launched an offensive against Al-Qaida and Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan, while a bomb attack near the capital killed three German nationals, officials said on Wednesday.

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The offensive involving ground troops and air strikes in Tora Bora region of eastern Nangarhar province is targeting "hundreds of foreign fighters" who are using dug-in fighting positions, said coalition spokeswoman Capt Vanessa Bowman.

The remote mountainous area bordering Pakistan was heavily bombarded in late 2001 by the US troops hunting Osama bin Laden and his associates following the September 11 attacks in America. Osama is believed to have escaped that assault.

There were no immediate reports of casualties among militants or US and Afghan troops.

Separately, US-led coalition and Afghan troops clashed with militants in central Logar province yesterday, killing nine suspected militants, the Interior Ministry said.