Operation Avalanche
On 12 December 2003, the US military announced its largest operation (started on 8 December 2003) against insurgents since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. Operation Avalanche involved the deployment of 2,000 soldiers to violence-plagued sections of the east and south of the country. The US military said the new offensive would aim to outpace the insurgents' "decision cycle," denying them time to regroup or stage their guerrilla-style attacks. The operation was announced the same day UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented his report on Afghanistan, warning that international efforts to rebuild the country may fail unless the security situation improves.
By 30 December 2003, when the operation concluded, Operation Avalanche was reported to have uncovered caches of rifles, pistols, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, howitzers, plus rockets, artillery shells, land mines, and other ammunition. He said more than 100 suspected "enemy" personnel were arrested by coalition forces and that 10 had been killed.
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