U.S. Forces search, destroy al Qaida caves (very detailed UPI report)

SAHIDI LGAD, Afghanistan, April 6 (UPI) -- U.S. military forces in Afghanistan completed an operation Saturday, destroying scores of al Qaida and Taliban caves and caches of arms and ammunition close to the Pakistan border that was once a training area for both groups.

The operation -- codenamed "Mountain Lion" -- involved three companies of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the first elements of which inserted into the mountain range last Monday and set up blocking positions just 1,000 meters (six-tenths of a mile) from the frontier. Their aim was to keep any enemy forces in the area from escaping into Pakistan or coming from it to attack Americans.

Mountain Lion concentrated on the southeastern corner of Paktia, where the Afghan province juts into Pakistan. Capt. Robert Kuth of Bravo Company described it as "a complete success."

"We've searched everything from small hidey-holes that you look into with a flashlight to caves in which we've sent in two-man teams," Kuth told a UPI reporter who accompanied troops on the mission. "In one, an enormous structure with concrete and steel beams inside, we even sent in a platoon of 22 men."

The elaborate cave was one of some three-dozen al Qaida and Taliban hideouts Bravo and Alpha companies uncovered in the mountain range Sahidi Lgad and an area known as the Zihawar Kili Complex.

Charlie Company had conducted an initial search in February after an unmanned Predator fired a Hellfire missile at what was believed to be a number of al Qaida leaders. They found parts of bodies, but also caves with munitions in them. Some had also tapped into underground water sources so those inside would not be forced to leave the cave to reach a well.

The area of Operation Mountain Lion, at an altitude of some 5,000 feet, shows the scars of war. One ridge is called "Russian Ridge" by the locals. During the anti-Soviet war, Mujahedeen fighters on top of it decimated 10-helicopter loads of assaulting Russians.

Trees around the recently searched caves are often nothing more than burned trunks and branches following U.S. bombardments to destroy al Qaida and Taliban forces.

Throughout this week troops from the 101st, in what is called an exploitation mission, scoured the rocky inclines of the mountains and riverbed areas for yet-undiscovered hiding places. Apache gunship helicopters hovered and moved laterally along the face of higher cliffs doing the same.

The trekking was hard. Besides their weapons, radios, ammunition, helmets and flak jackets, the soldiers were humping 20- to 30-kilogram (40- to 60-pound) rucksacks. Sweat poured and they downed about a liter (quart) per hour to avoid dehydration in the hot daytime.

Discoveries were methodically and painstakingly searched. First, a covering team would provide exterior security; then men would carefully enter, looking for tripwires and boobytraps. In larger caves, they would first toss in ropes with grappling hooks to set off any mines that had been layed.

Once searched and any documents removed, most caves were destroyed by either mortar fire, C-2 explosive charges or by Hellfire missiles fired by the Apaches. Others were marked with white tape across the entrance and with a tape arrow pointing to it for later destruction by jets off aircraft carriers in the North Arabian Sea.

"Everybody back," Bravo's Kuth ordered his men and a sergeant named Fox prepared to ignite a fuse cord to explode a C-4 charge, which in turn would ignite the ammunition and explosives found in one cave. "Everybody into the draw, and keep your heads down."

After a few minutes a tremendous explosion rocked the area, followed by a second. It echoed through the valleys, scattering the few goats and camels of locals who were out of the blast range.

It was a sound that was repeated every few minutes in the mountain range as Bravo and Alpha Company, in a second valley, continued their mission of destruction.

Kuth said caches his men found included 80 mm mortar rounds, 50-caliber bullets, propellant for RPGs -- rocket-propelled grenades -- an 88 mm recoilless rifle, as well as small arms ammunition.

They also found documents, he said. Among the papers were what looked like dossiers with photographs of men, papers with the fingerprints of individuals on them, tape recordings, instruction manuals and receipts.

"What's surprising is that some caves we looked at (earlier) that had nothing in them, now have arms stores, and caves that had arms and munitions in them are empty," said Lt. Joe Harosky of Charlie Company, which held blocking positions in Operation Mountain Lion.

"Somebody had definitely been here since then and maybe they thought it was safe to move stuff back in."

A nearby village searched in February, deserted at the time, also gave indications of more recent habitation, he said.

The giant cave exploited by Bravo Company ran 50 meters from its concrete-reinforced entrance. It then doglegged to the right for 100 meters into a room before jogging off in another direction for an additional 100 meters.

In one portion were a number of rooms, presumably living quarters, and in another was what appeared to be jail cells, complete with iron bars.

Operation Mountain Lion ended Saturday when the last of the 400 troops participating were helicoptered out to Bagram, near Kabul, the Afghan capital.

"We were here to conduct offensive operations to exploit the successes of Operation Anaconda," summarized Maj. Ignacio Perez, a public affairs Officer accompanying the mission, "by conducting sensitive site exploitation in order to complete the destruction of the al Qaida organization and their infrastructure in Afghanistan."

The troops participating in the quick insert -- only 30 seconds from the time a troop-laden C-47 Chinook helicopter touches ground, delivers its soldiers and lifts off -- had traveled from Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, headquarters for U.S. operations in the south.

Tight security was maintained at all times. No enemy forces were encountered, but Special Operations forces and British Marines who had been in the area earlier separately told U.S. troops that friendly Afghans had said some 200 Chechen al Qaida members in Pakistan were offering Afghans money to attack U.S. soldiers. Bigger rewards were to be had for the head of an American.

U.S. officers say small operations such as Mountain Lion are expected to be the norm in the future as al Qaida terrorists and remnants of the deposed Taliban regime were unlikely to regroup en masse as they did in March. At that time, U.S. and coalition forces implemented Operation Anaconda.

Landing Zone Boa, just 500 meters from the Pakistan border, was not used for withdrawal of troops for security reasons, and separate departure zones were used for exfiltration.

During the mission itself, AC-130 Spectre gunships flew overhead at night as added security for the soldiers, who dug in along hills and ridges.

To identify themselves as friendly forces to the Spectre, troops wore reflective tape on top of their helmets. The Spectres, equipped with computer-operated cannons and gattling guns use infrared and night-vision image vision systems at night for identifying its targets.

"I hope this is our swan song," said one soldier, who has been deployed to central Asia since November." Humping these mountains is a killer, and I'd really like to go home."

More than 5,600 U.S. troops are based in Kandahar, the majority of them from the 101st.

"See this hole here," a soldier named Potter said, pointing to his flack jacket. "That's from scrapnel during Anaconda. This is my lucky vest, and I'm keeping it."

The soldier, however, failed to mention he had also been wounded in the thigh by the landmine, which he set off with a rifle shot. His comrades were quick to remind him of it.

Local Afghan military forces were in the area of Operation Mountain Lion, generally keeping out of the way and providing an outer ring of security. During a search of Shodiaka Kalay village, however, they took the lead.

As Bravo company established security and moved on the collection of 40 abode houses on an escarpment, five Afghan soldiers took point, slowing moving around corners and forcing their way through doors.

The village was empty. But the scattered clothing and belongings indicated a quick abandonment. The Afghans said the residents -- one large, extended family -- fled during the U.S. bombing and were anxious to return once they received the go-ahead and word that al Qaida had not left behind booby traps.

Operation Mountain Lion was the first since Anaconda, but surely not the last. Given the country's terrain, especially in Eastern Afghanistan, the 30 caves explored were just the first of many where America's enemies may seek shelter or store ammunition for future battles.

Previous articles from AP and Reuters concerning operation "Mountain Lion" have been posted today, but this excellent UPI article by Richard Tomkins is the most detailed report yet, so I'm posting on Front Page News.

LOL! Remember how the press was detailing all these elaborate cave setups?? I even recall CNN on their web site at one point, had multi-story "cutaways" with everything a modern home has, except for maybe a rec room! Turns out Al Qaeda had a bunch of dirt floors!! Another great example of how the left tries to scare America into thinking we're taking on an "invincible" enemy, and maybe we ought to "re-think" our position!

Don't get me wrong--I believe the President when he says this fight will be long and hard; my problem is when the press tries to make EVERY enemy we take on appear to be 10-feet tall, when they aren't.

even recall CNN on their web site at one point, had multi-story "cutaways" with everything a modern home has, except for maybe a rec room! Yeah, where IS that cave, lol. My local paper even had a color graphic showing this multi-level mansion, complete with electric generators, air handling units, the works. It looked like a virtual underground mall...

Here are a couple of shots from CNN as they accompanied 101st during operation "Mountain Lion," this one was a decent cave, but no mansion:

Source, CNN (see link at lower right under "Extra Information")

It looked like a virtual underground mall...

Of course Al-Qaeda had underground malls. And mansions. Just like all that great health care and education they get in Cuba! Don't you know, totalitarian civilizations, in addition to being oh so hip, have superior accomodations!

"What's surprising is that some caves we looked at (earlier) that had nothing in them, now have arms stores, and caves that had arms and munitions in them are empty,"

Some that HAD arms and munitions are now empty? What did they do, leave the munitions in them last time for Al-Qaeda to come and remove them?

I realize that our forces want to project an image of invincibility - but WHY IN THE WORLD would our press want to enlighten our enemies???!!!

It is absolutely baffling.

My prayers are with our troops, and our leaders.

I realize that our forces want to project an image of invincibility - but WHY IN THE WORLD would our press want to enlighten our enemies???!!!

It baffles me as well, but I have seen numerous newspaper articles, even all over the Internet, telling everyone including the Taliban and Al Qaeda what color tapes our troops are wearing on themselves and on vehicles to prevent "friendly fire."

Get the U.S. troops out of that corrupt country now!

Huh? Because of a bogus news report from Paknews??? No way, lol. I suggest we leave when we have destroyed al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, when the job is done!

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