Operation Mountain Lion ~ Afghanistan

I am sure it is for security purposes, but as of right now there are no photos available of Operation Mountain Lion. As you all know I am extremely careful about what I post about our troops. To be supportive is what Theodore’s World is about and I will continue to be careful as always when it comes to information and photos that are placed on here.
So I am going to put one here from 2002 of the area where Operation Mountain Lion is going on. It will give you an idea of the landscape and what our awesome troops are dealing with. – Wild Thing

Afghanistan operation targets insurgents near Asadabad
Friday, April 14, 2006
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition
Afghan and American troops have killed at least six suspected insurgents in an offensive near Asadabad, Afghanistan, dubbed Operation Mountain Lion, U.S. military officials said.
The operation targets insurgents’ “sanctuary and … their ability to resupply” in the Marawara District of Kunar province, according to a news release. The operation includes more than 2,500 Afghan and coalition troops, including members of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
Afghan troops include members of the 3rd Brigade of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps, American officials said.
The U.S. troops are part of Task Force Spartan, which launched the “predawn air-and-ground assaults Wednesday in the Pech River Valley, an area notorious for terrorist activity,” according to the news release.

“However long it takes to rid this area of extremist activity, we’ll be there,” Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore, the Task Force Spartan top enlisted soldier, was quoted in the release as saying.

According to Air Force officials, the service is providing 24-hour close air support for ground troops in Mountain Lion.

“This operation is helping the government of Afghanistan set the security conditions so democratic processes can take root,” Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy Combined Forces Air Component commander, said in an Air Force news release. “Our job is to bring airpower to bear on the anti-Afghan forces and support the coalition troops on the ground.”

U.S. Air Force F-15s, A-10s and B-52s are being used in the operations, along with Royal Air Force GR-7s.
Global Hawk and Predator drones also are providing intelligence and reconnaissance, with KC-135 and KC-10 aircraft providing refueling support, Air Force officials said.

And this as well……………
“Operation Mountain Lion” To Hit “Terrorist’s Backyard” In Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan (AHN) – Over 2,500 Coalition and Afghan forces have launched “Operation Mountain Lion” to enhance the security of new government with a round predawn of air strikes.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy air component commander for Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, says, “This operation is helping the government of Afghanistan set the security conditions so democratic processes can take root.”
However, Peck is quick to add that this effort does not constitute a return to major combat operations for American troops in Afghanistan, saying, “Our job is to bring airpower to bear on the anti-Afghan forces and support the coalition troops on the ground.”
Peck adds, “Our objective is to assist the coalition forces and Afghan national security forces in defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda.”
“The coalition employs airpower every day to support Afghanistan’s democratically elected government in establishing regional stability and long-term economic and political development.”
Officials add that the mission will help establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism, and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, and that this is only a part of the ongoing series of offensives that aim to disrupt insurgent activities, deny them sanctuary and prevent their ability to restock.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore of Task Force Spartan, says, “We’re taking the fight to the terrorists in their own backyard.”
“They gave their victims no sanctuary. They’ll receive none from us.”
Combat operations included predawn air-and-ground assaults in the Pech River Valley, an area notorious for terrorist activity.
Officials confirm soldiers from 3rd Brigade of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps are fighting alongside servicemembers from the coalition’s Task Force Spartan, made up of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Marines from Task Force Lava.

From Army Mil.
Coalition launches ‘Operation Mountain Lion’ in Afghanistan

Coalition forces, in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, began “Operation Mountain Lion” yesterday to establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, military officials reported today.
Afghan and coalition forces killed six insurgents today while conducting offensive operations in the Marawara district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province.
Military officials in Afghanistan said Operation Mountain Lion is part of the coalition’s ongoing series of offensives that aim to disrupt insurgent activities, deny them sanctuary and prevent their ability to restock.

“This operation is helping the government of Afghanistan set the security conditions so democratic processes can take root,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy air component commander for Combined Forces Command Afghanistan. “Our job is to bring airpower to bear on the anti-Afghan forces and support the coalition troops on the ground.”

Operations today began with predawn air-and-ground assaults in the Pech River Valley, an area notorious for terrorist activity, Combined Force Command Afghanistan officials said.
Soldiers from 3rd Brigade of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps are fighting alongside servicemembers from the coalition’s Task Force Spartan, made up of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Marines from Task Force Lava.
More than 2,500 Afghan National Army and coalition forces are involved in the operation.

“We’re taking the fight to the terrorists in their own backyard,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore of Task Force Spartan. “They gave their victims no sanctuary. They’ll receive none from us.”

Coalition leaders described the operation as a comprehensive effort to kill, incapacitate or capture terrorists operating in the region. It will continue as long as necessary, they said.

“Together, with our ANA brothers-in-arms, we’re eliminating the enemy’s remaining sanctuaries in Kunar province,” added Army Col. John Nicholson, Task Force Spartan’s commander.

U.S. Air Force F-15s, A-10s and B-52s are providing close-air support to troops on the ground engaged in rooting out insurgent sanctuaries and support networks. Royal Air Force GR-7s also are providing close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces. U.S. Air Force Global Hawk and Predator aircraft are providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, while KC-135 and KC-10 aircraft are providing refueling support.

“Our objective is to assist the coalition forces and Afghan national security forces in defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda,” Peck said. “The coalition employs airpower every day to support Afghanistan’s democratically elected government in establishing regional stability and long-term economic and political development.”

Anti-terror efforts like this will extend the reach of the Afghan government, allowing legitimate governance to perform valuable work on behalf of the people in this region, Nicholson said. Stability and security will, in turn, permit nongovernmental aid and reconstruction organizations to work more efficiently.
(Information provided by the Armed Forces Press Service. Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Wild Thing’s comment…….
I will share a part of an email from a soldier in the 10th Mtn.Division………..
….”from the Konar Province. I’ll share a bit. . . The road is good but the officers feel it is a little too bumpy. I guess I need to go faster to smooth out those bumps. All is well here except the MRE’s are all starting to taste the same. Home made ice cream sure does sound good.”
To all those in Operation Mountain Lion this is for you as you ……just CLICK HERE…..go after the terrorists in Afghanistan. God bless our soldiers and America. My heart is so thankful for the men and women in our awesome military.
“Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist,
And the Eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringin’ her bell,
and it will feel like the whole wide world’s rainin’ down on you,
All brought to you Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!”