More than 1,100 troops have launched a major operation in Afghanistan's eastern Uzbin Valley. The force includes 800 French legionnaires, together with US and Afghan soldiers.<br/><br/>Ten French soldiers were killed in the area in August 2008 when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. A further 21 French troops were wounded, in one of the heaviest tolls suffered by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force.<br/><br/>The operation is aimed at "reaffirming the sovereignty of Afghan security forces in the north of the Uzbin Valley", Col Benoit Durieux of the French Foreign Legion said. The French have codenamed the offensive 'Septentrion'.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>