KABUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A recently launched operation to wipe out insurgents from Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province is continuing aggressively to ensure security for the locals, US military spokesman said Monday.

    "The American forces are taking the fight to these enemies of Afghanistan in order to root them out of that area," James Yonts told reporters at a news briefing.

    Afghan and US troops, in their attempts to get rid the violence-hit province of Kunar from the rebels, launched a major offensive against militants in Karengal valley early Saturday but the outcome is yet to be made public.

    Kunar, a former stronghold of Taliban and dissident warlord Gulbudin Hekmatyar along the border with Pakistan, has been the scene of increasing militancy since the beginning of this year.

    In addition to Afghan troops, over 25 US soldiers have been killed in the rugged terrain of Kunar province over the past two months.

    Taliban shot down a US helicopter late last June in Kunar, killing all 16 on board. While another seven US soldiers have losttheir lives in combat activities in the same province over the past 10 days.

    "We are making progress. We will finish the enemies, we will finish them tomorrow," the US military spokesman said.

    However, he admitted that eliminating militants takes time.

    "It will take time. We will take help from Afghan National Armyand police and from the locals living in Kunar province and we will be successful in that region," Colonel Yonts said. Enditem