Afghan, British and US troops were fighting in a major operation today to capture the Taliban's biggest stronghold in Afghanistan.
Musa Qala in the southern province of Helmand is the only sizeable Afghan town controlled by the Taliban.
Capturing Musa Qala would give Afghan government and foreign troops a big boost as the harsh winter and perennial lull in fighting sets in.
US troops were taken close to the town by helicopter yesterday to begin the attack as British troops moved in by land.
"We are now involved in an advance that is effectively kicking the door in to Musa Qala," said Lieutenant Colonel Richard Eaton, British forces' spokesman in Helmand.
Afghan army units followed up the assault on several hundred rebels in and around the town.
Twelve insurgents and two children had been killed in the assault, Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi told a news conference. Between 200 to 300 civilians had fled the area after they were informed in advance of the operation, he said.
US-led coalition force said a "precision-guided munitions strike" had killed several Taliban insurgents including a militant commander in Musa Qala yesterday.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Musa Qala residents had requested government forces eject the Taliban.