The Taliban are particularly active in Kapisa Valley, and are impeding movement along the main road from north to south Kapisa – an economic lifeline of Kabul and surrounding valleys. From January 29 to February 7, 2011, the Chasseurs Alpins, or Alpine Hunters, who are the French Army's elite mountain infantry battalion, embarked on Operation Storm Lightning, with the objective of opening the main supply route, MSR, while striking logistics networks of insurgents in the region.