WASHINGTON, Sept 30: The most important US-led campaign in Afghanistan in recent months was marred by overeager, inexperienced troops who alienated local residents, according to a report in Newsweek magazine for its latest edition.

In August, US troops launched a week-long campaign, known as “Operation Mountain Sweep” in the Shahi Kot valley of eastern Afghanistan, scene of heavy fighting in March.

Reports following the mission said it yielded 10 arrests, and the discovery of five weapons caches.

Newsweek quoted US special forces troops operating in the area prior to the 600-man sweep as saying the operation was, perhaps, counter-productive.

The work done since March by the special forces in gaining local trust unravelled in the face of 600 action-hungry US soldiers, the newsweekly said.

“We just couldn’t believe they were acting that way. Every time we turned around they were doing something stupid,” one special forces officer told the weekly.

“They were acting like (Osama) bin Laden was hiding behind every door. That just wasn’t the way to be acting with civilians,” said another.

Newsweek, quoting sources, said the steady stream of friendly intelligence from locals has nearly dried up since the operation ended, and incidents of harassment of US troops has increased.

Newsweek said the soldier’s allegations were backed up by local villagers.

Army public affairs officers defended the operation, describing the special forces troops active in that area of Afghanistan as “prima donnas”. —AFP