US-led forces have ended their largest post-war operation in Afghanistan by claiming to have reduced the threat from militants.
A US military statement released today made no mention of the deaths of 15 children in a series of botched raids around the start of "Operation Avalanche", in which 2,000 troops fanned out across southern and eastern provinces.
The level of attacks by remnants of the ousted Taliban and its militant allies dropped during three weeks of the operation, but it did not prevent deadly raids in the south and east or a suicide bomb in Kabul killing five security officials.
Mullah Sabir Momin, Taliban deputy operational commander in southern Afghanistan, said the militia had carried out a suicide attack in Kabul on Sunday in which five security officials and two bombers were killed.
"A group of 200 mujahideen [holy warriors] has penetrated various Afghan cities," he said on Monday. "In Kabul alone, 130 trained Taliban are present on suicide missions. They can manufacture powerful bombs with limited resources."
The US statement said the operation had ensured the constitutional Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, was not disrupted and that the opening of a resurfaced highway between Kabul and Kandahar was not delayed.
According to a statement, 10 enemy personnel were killed during "Operation Avalanche" and four were wounded.
Two Afghan soldiers died and two Afghan soldiers were wounded. Two members of the 12,000-strong US-led force in Afghanistan were also wounded while more than 100 suspected Islamic militants were detained.