United States armed forces in Afghanistan have been involved in a clash with rebels near the border with Pakistan.
A US military spokesman said it was the largest scale fighting in the region for nine months, with up to 200 US special forces soldiers involved.
The spokesman, Colonel Roger King, said the operation began after a captured rebel gave information about a group of around 80 rebels hiding in the mountains. At least 18 rebels were killed.
Coalition bombers have been targeting the Adi Ghar mountains north of the southeastern border town of Spin Boldak in a firefight since yesterday.
Afghan officials said rebels hiding in the mountains were ex-Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.
