Thousands of U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops on Saturday launched a large-scale anti-Taliban operation in five Afghan provinces, the coalition said.

The goal of the operation, called Mountain Fury, is not only to defeat Taliban insurgents but also to assist with economic growth and development in the communities, a coalition statement said.

The 7,000 troops will concentrate their fight on the central and eastern provinces of Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Paktya and Logar, the statement said.

The operation comes as NATO-led troops in the south press on with their own anti-Taliban operation, which they claim has killed over 500 militants in the last two weeks.

Mountain Fury is part of a series of operations "placing continuous pressure on Taliban extremists," the statement said.

"Mountain Fury will continue until the conditions of bringing security, construction and growth are met," said Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, the top U.S. operational commander.

"The Afghan people are tired of war. They want what their government is capable of providing: security, employment, education and a better way of life," Freakley said.