Major Afghan assault launched

More than 1,100 troops launch major operation in Uzbeen Valley, AFP reports.

Nato soldiers in Afghanistan
The operation comes weeks after Obama announced he was sending more to troops to Afghanistan [AFP]

Septentrion comes weeks after Barack Obama, the US president, announced he was sending 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, but also said they would begin to pull out by mid-2011.

General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, told Afghan members of parliament recently that there would be “significant improvements in security” by the middle of next year.