On Sunday, a number of co-ordinated attacks were carried out on U.S. and Afghan military outposts in the Korengal Valley of eastern Afghanistan. Hmm. Who do we know that does stuff like that?
Insurgents hit five U.S. and Afghan outposts in the Korengal Valley on Sunday, staging coordinated attacks that had the earmarks of an Al Qaeda operation.
The latest trouble in the nearly eight-year U.S.-led war was seen by some analysts as the likely launch of an ugly spring offensive by Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
"It quite possibly could be the kickoff," a senior intelligence official told the Daily News.
Simultaneous strikes are an Al Qaeda tactic. A U.S. military statement on the "failed attacks" in mountainous Kunar province near the Afghan-Pakistan border noticeably did not blame the Taliban.
"I can't believe this was impromptu. These things require careful planning, and it repeats a pattern we've seen over previous years," the U.S. official added.
No coalition forces died Sunday, but a dozen insurgents were killed, the military said.
"Afghan and U.S. forces repelled the enemy's attack utilizing effective small-arms fire, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, artillery fire and close-air support," the military statement said.