The end of Operation Anaconda

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan declared Monday that the operation to destroy Taliban and al Qaeda in the eastern mountains was "an unqualified and absolute success" despite claims by Afghan allies that most of the enemy fighters got away. \nGen. Tommy Franks, chief of the U.S. military's Central Command, said the offensive -- Operation Anaconda -- would be over by day's end, but the fight against terrorists was far from over. \nBritain announced Monday that it will send up to 1,700 troops to Afghanistan to help U.S. forces in future operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban. \nIn Washington, meanwhile, a senior Pentagon official said U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan attacked a convoy of three vehicles believed to be trying to ferry al Qaeda fighters out of the Shah-e-Kot Valley area. \nThe attack on Sunday killed 16 enemy fighters and wounded one, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One person was detained. There were no American casualties, the official said. \nMany details were unclear, including whether the convoy was attacked by air as well as ground forces. \nLater, a separate U.S.-led operation in that area resulted in the capturing of an unknown number of suspected al Qaeda fighters, one officer said. No Americans were wounded in that engagement, either, but the officer said he did not immediately have other details. \nOperation Anaconda was launched March 2 to clear al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from the Shah-e-Kot valley in Paktia province. Al Qaeda and Taliban positions fell last week, but some of the Afghan commanders fighting alongside the Americans believe most of the fighters escaped. \nOne senior Afghan leader, Commander Abdullah, said the enemy fighters fled during the heavy U.S. air bombardment. Another commander Abdul Wali Zardran, said coalition forces did not wipe out al Qaeda's fighters. \n"Americans don't listen to anyone," Zardran said. "They do what they want. Most people escaped. You can't call that a success." \nFranks, who arrived here to meet U.S. commanders and award Bronze Star medals, predicted the operation would end within 12 hours. But the overall mission in Afghanistan -- to wipe out al Qaeda and their Afghan Taliban allies -- would continue. \n"We still have additional work to do," Franks said during a news conference at Bagram air base north of Kabul. "If you talk to anyone of these soldiers, they'll tell you they are here to do that work." \nFranks refused to speculate on the number of enemy fighters who may have been killed in Operation Anaconda but insisted the area "is a very different place" than it was when the operation began. \nHe refused to discuss the next stage in the U.S.-led fight against al Qaeda and Taliban holdouts but said, "I believe that future operations may well be the size of Anaconda." \nBritish Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Britain will deploy a full infantry battle group including Royal Marines commandos in Afghanistan in its largest military deployment for combat operations since the Persian Gulf war. \nHoon said the U.S. had requested Britain join future operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. \n"This group will join a U.S.-led brigade -- forming a potent force ready to undertake such operations," he told the House of Commons. \n"This a powerful force -- total up to 1,700 strong," he said. \nHoon said the British troops would go initially to Bagram, with the first members arriving within days, and would be ready to begin offensive operations by mid-April. \nIn recent days, coalition forces have examined 30 caves, finding ammunition, clothing, supplies and sensitive documents, said Capt. Steven O'Connor, spokesman for the 10th Mountain Division. \nHe said there had been no contact with enemy fighters in the last day.