THOUSANDS OF US-led Nato troops launched an offensive last night designed to seize control of the Taliban’s last big stronghold in Afghanistan’s most violent province.
Airborne attacks began on the town of Marjah in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.
“The first wave of several helicopters has left,” a Reuters reporter with the 1st Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment said.
A dozen helicopters flew from south of Marjah and were due to land in the town centre, the reporter said.
The assault, the first since US President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan in December, is the start of a campaign to impose government control on rebel-held areas this year, before US forces start to withdraw in 2011.
US Marine commanders expect up to 1,000 insurgents to be holed up inside the town of 80,000 people in Helmand province – including more than 100 foreign fighters.
One local Taliban commander, Qari Fazluddin, told Reuters earlier that about 2,000 fighters were ready to fight in Marjah, a densely populated area.
Operation Moshtarak, which means “together” in the Dari language, will be led by the US Marine Corps but British troops will also be heavily involved.
About 4,500 US Marines, 1,500 Afghan troops and 300 US soldiers are taking part in the offensive.
The offensive will also involve at least a thousand Afghan police, making it the biggest joint operation since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
Soldiers from the British army’s Grenadier Guards battle group, the Royal Welsh and the Scots Guards took part in preliminary operations last week, and other units are likely to take part as well. – (Reuters and PA)