Military forces from Uganda, southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched an attack on Sunday morning on a hideout of Uganda's rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
Paddy Ankunda, spokesman of Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF), told Xinhua by telephone that the joint attack was targeting a known hideout of LRA's fugitive leader Joseph Kony.
"Our troops launched an attack on one of Kony's hideouts in Garamba National Park in the DRC," he said, adding that more details would be available later.
The joint military offensive, the first of its kind, came after Kony refused to sign a final peace deal on Nov. 29 after two-year- long peace negotiations between Ugandan government and the LRA mediated by southern Sudan authorities.
The surprise move was also preceded by several regional high level security meetings aimed at addressing regional security risks including the LRA's insurgency.
Ugandan government has blamed Kinshasa for not taking actions to flush out LRA fighters hiding in its bushes before the two countries decided to fight together against Uganda's rebels.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni responded positively earlier this week to Kony's request for direct contact, giving his mobile number to Kony's representative. But it is not known if Kony made that call.
Kony, indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has vowed not to sign the final document until the court drop its charges against him and three of his top commanders.
The LRA's over two decade long insurgency has left tens of thousands of people dead and some two million homeless in northern Uganda.