KABUL: French Mirage 2000-D warplanes are flying near Afghanistan's eastern city of Gardez as part of the US-led coalition's drive to rout al-Qaeda militants from their mountain hideouts, a French spokesman said on Monday.
The planes have been flying since Saturday on their "first operational mission" in the area and two missions were underway Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Bertrand Bon, a French air force spokesman based in Kyrgyzstan, said.
The French warplanes did not take part in the bombings of the area but "have been providing a permanent presence" in a support role, he said.
"These planes can be used in bombings at any moment depending on what is needed," he said.
Last week six French Mirage 2000-D warplanes and two in-air refuelling planes arrived in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the international coalition against terrorism.
US warplanes began bombing the Arma mountains late on Friday to root out hundreds of al-Qaeda and Taliban militants believed holed up in the area.
Afghan troops under the guidance of US military advisers also launched a ground offensive, but soldiers on the ground said their progress was blocked by heavy resistance.
A spokesman for the US Central Command said Sunday that Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany and Norway were among the coalition countries participating in the operation.
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