ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: US forces have launched a large-scale operation to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban suspects in the troubled eastern Afghan province of Paktia, the Afghan Islamic Press reported Tuesday.

The operation, continuing for the past two days, has targeted Zurmat district, 27kms west of the provincial capital Gardez, the news service said.

US troops have started house-to-house searches to cleanse the area of Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects, it said.

While ground troops conducted the search operation, the US military planes and helicopters circled overhead providing air cover, the AIP said.

The operation included fresh US troops, airlifted from Kabul two or three days ago to reinforce American forces already stationed at a base in the nearby Khost region, it said.

The US forces targetted Zurmat because the area is considered a base for pro-Taliban commander Maulawi Saifur Rehman Mansoor, the agency said.

Mansoor fought against the US and allied forces during their operation to round up Al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in the Shahi Kot valley in March this year, it said. —AFP