 Meanwhile, the Americans began their combat operations against the Taliban forces that were entrenched in the mountains on the border with Pakistan in the east in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Paktia, Logar and Nuristan.The 10th Mountain Division led the charge establishing many remote outposts in regions that were previously Taliban dominated.These outposts came almost under continued attacks as well as did the American combat patrols which resulted in almost 150 casualties inflicted on the Americans in two and a half months by the beginning of December.