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| French launch major Afghan attack | French launch major Afghan attack |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| More than 1,100 troops have launched a major operation in Afghanistan's eastern Uzbin Valley, AFP reports. | More than 1,100 troops have launched a major operation in Afghanistan's eastern Uzbin Valley, AFP reports. |
| The force reportedly includes 800 French legionnaires, together with American and Afghan soldiers. | The force reportedly includes 800 French legionnaires, together with American and Afghan soldiers. |
| Ten French soldiers were killed in the area in August 2008 when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. | Ten French soldiers were killed in the area in August 2008 when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. |
| A further 21 French troops were wounded, in one of the heaviest tolls suffered by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). | A further 21 French troops were wounded, in one of the heaviest tolls suffered by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). |
| The operation is aimed at "reaffirming the sovereignty of Afghan security forces in the north of the Uzbin Valley", Col Benoit Durieux of the French Foreign Legion told the AFP news agency. | |
| The French have codenamed the offensive Septentrion. | The French have codenamed the offensive Septentrion. |
| Last year's ambush was in the area of Sarobi, some 50km (30 miles) east of Kabul. | Last year's ambush was in the area of Sarobi, some 50km (30 miles) east of Kabul. |
| At the time it was seen as a warning that insurgents were closing in on the Afghan capital, and was thought to be the heaviest loss of life suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983. | At the time it was seen as a warning that insurgents were closing in on the Afghan capital, and was thought to be the heaviest loss of life suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983. |