Afghanistan ? The U.S. command says American helicopters have flown Afghan troops into a remote mountain area north of Kabul in an operation to recapture a district overrun last week by the Taliban.

Government forces pulled out of Barg-e-Matal district of Nuristan province last weekend after hundreds of Taliban fighters swept into the area from nearby Pakistan. U.S. aircraft softened up Taliban defenses with airstrikes ahead of the pre-dawn assault today.

U.S. officers say more than 200 Afghan troops and a small U.S. advisory team will link up with Afghan forces still in the area in an operation that will take a couple of days.