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U.S. Special Forces Currently Operating Inside Afghanistan: Reports
U.S. Special Forces have entered Afghanistan, media reports and U.S. defense officials said Friday.
The Cable News Network (CNN), quoting a U.S. defense official, reported that "a limited number" of U.S. special forces were already on the ground inside Afghanistan,
Meanwhile, the Washington Post, also quoting U.S. defense officials, reported on Friday that "small numbers" of U.S. special troops have entered and started operations in southern Afghanistan.
The number of U.S. personnel on the ground "is just a handful now," the officials was quoted as saying.
The Special Forces were on a mission to provide support for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) efforts in the heartland of the Taliban, the Post said. But defense officials would not confirm it.
And it was unclear when the troops entered that country.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. defense officials said that Washington would provide air support and ammunition to help anti- Taliban opposition fighters in Afghanistan. They also indicated that the current U.S.-led air campaign in Afghanistan would soon be joined by ground forces.
The Post report quoted another defense official as saying that more Special Forces were likely to be deployed soon and their missions also included reconnaissance, target designation for warplanes and on "rare occasions direct attacks on Taliban or terrorist leaders."
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