BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — Coalition forces continue their pursuit of anti-coalition forces as “Operation Mountain Viper” continues.
The operation began Aug. 30 when coalition forces moved into the mountains in the vicinity of Dai Chupan in the Zabul region of Afghanistan, according to a news release from Coalition Joint Task Force 180’s press information center.
“Enemy resistance over the past 48 hours has been relatively slight,” said Col. Rodney Davis during a news briefing Friday. He added that about 84 to 100 anti-coalition forces had been killed since the operation began.
Two U.S. soldiers died the first day of the operation.
The Department of Defense identified the soldiers as Spc. Chad C. Fuller, 24, of Potsdam, N.Y., and Pfc. Adam L. Thomas, 21, of Palos Hills, Ill. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
The soldiers died when their squad came under attack while on patrol, according to the Defense Department.
“The operation continues,” Davis said. “We are not constrained by any timetable; we’ve not terminated the operation. We’ve been very successful. We have the enemy on the run.”
Davis added that Operation Mountain Viper is not limited to the Kabul region.
“The operation is not limited to the province,” Davis said. “If they move to the west, we’ll move to the west. If they move to the north, we’ll move to the north.”
Operation Mountain Viper employs special operations forces, close air support and 10th Mountain Division ground forces.
The numbers of troops involved in the operation could not be released because of operational security.
