Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
NATO launches major Afghanistan offensive
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (2)
Slideshow
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Luge crash death darkens Games mood
| Video
12 Feb 2010
Luge death darkens mood as Winter Games open
| Video
2:15am EST
U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile
12 Feb 2010
UPDATE 3-Toyota sets US recall of 8,000 Tacoma pickups
12 Feb 2010
Toyota to recall 8,000 Tacomas in U.S.: document
12 Feb 2010
U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile
12 Feb 2010
"Khan" uses melodrama to tackle tough issues
12 Feb 2010
Dow, S&P 500 dip on China lending curb; Nasdaq up
| Video
12 Feb 2010
Architect reinvents apartment to solve space crunch
08 Feb 2010
Men risk anticlimax with anatomy-boosting pants
12 Feb 2010
NATO launches major Afghanistan offensive
Golnar Motevalli
MARJAH, Afghanistan
Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:04am EST
Factbox
Factbox: Five facts about Marjah district, Helmand
Fri, Feb 12 2010
Related News
Afghan assault puts U.S. troop surge to test
Fri, Feb 12 2010
Q+A: NATO "Operation Mushtarak" in Afghanistan's Helmand
Fri, Feb 12 2010
<
1 / 4
>
View Full Size
MARJAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S.-led NATO troops launched a crucial offensive on Saturday against the Taliban's last big stronghold in Afghanistan's most violent province and were quickly thrown into a firefight with the militants.
World
The assault is a test of President Barack Obama's ordered "surge" of extra troops to Afghanistan in December and the start of a campaign to impose government control on rebel-held areas this year, before U.S. forces start to withdraw in 2011.
Within hours of the operation getting underway, U.S. Marines at the tip of the assault battled with Taliban militants in Marjah, in Helmand Province, all the time facing the possibility of being blown up by booby traps rigged across the town.
Marines engaged in a firefight with Taliban militants after the U.S. troops landed in helicopters near the town. They fired at least four rockets at militants who attacked from compounds.
At least one Marine was wounded by shrapnel.
More than two hours later, the area was still gripped by the firefight, with the Marines firing another large rocket. One family of civilians nearby was huddled in a room of their house, with the washing flapping on the line outside.
The first objective of U.S. Marines was to take over the town center, a large cluster of dwellings.
A Reuters reporter said exchanges of fire -- with assault rifles crackling -- erupted initially about 300 meters away. Moments earlier, two large explosions resounded and a large black plume of smoke rose into the sky.
The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying U.S. Marines into the city in the early morning hours. British troops then flew into the northern part of the surrounding Nad Ali district, followed by tanks and combat engineering units.
"The first phase of the operation is proceeding very successfully. The Taliban have heavily booby-trapped the area, but there has not been any fierce fighting yet," Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal told a news conference.
"We have seized 11 key locations in the district and the resistance from the insurgents has been subdued."
15,000 TROOPS IN OPERATION
The 15,000-troop operation may have been named Mushtarak, or together, to highlight that NATO and Afghan forces were determined to work closely to bring stability to Afghanistan.
Much of whether the apparent early success can translate into a more permanent solution to militancy may depend on whether the government can ensure long-term political and economic stability.
It is also essential that Afghan troops become effective enough to prevent the return of militants to areas they previously held, without the help of Western firepower.
Marjah has long been a breeding ground for insurgents and lucrative opium poppy cultivation. Residents may not be keen for any upheaval, even if they were subjected to the Taliban's austere brand of Islam.
Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of the world's illegal opium, the raw ingredient used to make heroin, an industry Western countries say funds the insurgency against NATO troops and the Afghan government.
There are other complicating factors. Many of the militants on the top of the U.S. hit list operate from sanctuaries in forbidding border areas in Pakistan.
U.S. ally Pakistan is reluctant to pursue them as they see the militants as assets to counter the influence of rival India in Afghanistan. If that does not change, offensives may produce limited results.
SURROUNDED BY BOMBS
Decades ago, the Marjah area was home to an Afghan-American development project. Its canals, which criss-cross lush farmland, were built by the Americans. Now NATO is trying to recapture it from militants unlikely to contemplate cooperation with the West.
A local Taliban commander, Qari Fazluddin, told Reuters earlier some 2,000 fighters were ready to fight.
Unlike previous operations, this offensive has been flagged for months, a move commanders hoped will persuade many fighters to lay down their arms or flee.
The safety of civilians may be the vital issue for NATO against the Taliban, which have re-emerged as a deadly fighting force since they were toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
NATO forces have advised civilians not to leave their homes, though it is uncertain whether heavy fighting will occur.
Most of the estimated 100,000 residents of the area have stayed put. But others have headed 30 km (18 miles) east to the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. "All the walls between the streets and houses are surrounded by bombs. Most people have gone to Lashkar Gah. That's where we want to go today," resident Abdel Aziz, 16, told the Marines through a translator.
Soon after, an elderly woman emerged from her house and asked Marines not to fire at it. "This is just my house," she said.
(Writing by Michael Georgy and Bryson Hull; Editing by Ron Popeski)
World
Comments
See All Comments (2) | Post Comment
Feb 12, 2010 8:24pm EST
It is clear that the Afghan people pefer the Talaban to anyone from a map on NBC TV there is NO need to be in the state of Afganistan. They can have their treat road to thenselves.
Report As Abusive
Feb 12, 2010 9:32pm EST
Very, very poor military strategy to allow civilians to stay in the town when bad guys dress as civilians and shoot from civilian positions using civilians as human shields. Vacate of be considered a bad guy as Paks did in their recent offensie in tribal areas.
50Otis50
Report As Abusive
See All Comments (2)
Add a Comment
More from Reuters
NATO launches major Afghanistan offensive
MARJAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S.-led NATO troops launched a crucial offensive on Saturday against the Taliban's last big stronghold in Afghanistan's most violent province and were quickly thrown into a firefight with the militants.
Three killed in University of Alabama shooting
| Video
Luge death darkens mood as Winter Games open
| Video
Luge competition to resume on Saturday
Toyota emphasizes U.S. presence to Congress
Microsoft to announce new phone software: sources
» More Top News
Travel & Leisure:
Top 10 romantic hotel rooms
Romantics looking for more than chocolates on their pillows might find what they're looking for in these sexy hotel rooms. Full Article
48 hours in Dublin
Appealing designs on the road
Lifestyle
2010 Olympic Games:
Let the Games begin
Get all the latest news and videos as the world competes in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Full Coverage
Life in the Olympic Village
The road to Vancouver
Olympic Notebook: Vancouver 2010
2010 Winter Olympics
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts.com
Buyouts Europe:
Buyouts Conferences:
Venture Capital Journal
EVCJ
International Financing Review
International Securitisation Report
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Saturday, 13 February 2010 Retail Sales Jump Half Percent In January
Sonia Rykiel's H&M Knitwear Collection Arrives In Stores February 20
Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas "Make A Wave" For Disney's Friends For Change
Centric To Premiere "Becoming Barack" Documentary On President's Day
Preval asks Haitians to dry their eyes and rebuild
|
Army Discharges Single Mother For Refusing Deployment
Schwarzenegger To Swear In Lt. Gov. Nominee Despite Contested Vote
Three Teens Charged With Identity Theft, Cyber-Bullying
Obama Administration Announces $1 Billion In Funding For Modernization Of Health Sector With IT Jobs
Study Finds College Males Victims Of Violence At hands Of Their Girlfriends
Israel moves West Bank barrier at flashpoint village
|
Researchers Uncover Clue To Autism Related Tactile Defensiveness
Nobel laureate Ebadi calls for sanctions on Iran
|
War crimes court rejects Karadzic appeal on lawyer
|
Microsoft to announce new phone software: sources
|
Web video service Veoh to liquidate, founder says
|
Justice Department appeals court ban on cell-phone tracking
|
New De Niro? DiCaprio steps up as Scorsese's star
|
Brosnan asks why now? of Polanski's arrest
|
Indian star Khan scared by militant Hindu outcry
|
NATO launches major Afghanistan offensive
|
Ke$ha Keeps Black Eyed Peas From The Top Of The Billboard Hot 100
One month after quake, Haitians join to mourn dead
|
Philippine Comelec Prepares To Implement Fair Election Act
Wen warns of challenges as China readies for new year
|
Philippine Election Watchdog Asks Comelec To Enact Fair Election Act
Ivory Coast's president dissolves government
|
Lady Antebellum Spend Second Week Atop Billboard Albums Chart With "Need You Now"
Costa Rica finds ton of cocaine, arrests Mexicans
|
Al-Jazeera-says Yemen rebels deny assassination bid
|
China says most melamine-tainted milk destroyed
|
Nobel laureate Ebadi calls for sanctions on Iran
|
Canada's message to the games: We're Canadian, dammit
|
Google mulls stand-alone version of Buzz
|
Pay-As-You-Go Becomes Law, President Obama Reiterates Moves To Cut Deficit
Shooting At University Of Alabama Huntsville Leaves 3 Dead, Female Suspect In Custody
Health Insurance Companies Increased Profits By 56% In 2009
Senate Ponders New Jobs Creation Bill
U.S. Markets Close Down Friday; Investors Eye Global Markets
Regina King Talks Second Season Of "Southland" On TNT
Games open in Canada's wintry indoor paradise
|
Winter Storm Causes Major Disruptions, Delays In Southern States
Olivia Newton-John's Physical sexiest song ever
|
Madonna transforms into Marriage Ref for TV
|
Naomi Campbell hosts Haiti show that mourns McQueen
|
Project Runway hopefuls show at NY Fashion Week
|
Guns N' Roses plays surprise New York show
|
Eight killed in suspected bomb blast in India: police
|
Critics of Jordan's U.S. ties charged with sedition
|
Iraq election officials confirm Sunni candidate ban
|
Somali minister dies of wounds after suicide bomb
|
Ivory Coast opposition calls for massive protests
|
Suu Kyi official freed from house arrest in Myanmar
|
German neo-Nazis mark WWII raid in Dresden
|
California County Jails Release 1,500 Inmates
Defense Agency Successfully Tests Boeing 747 Laser On In-Flight Missile
'Mediterranean Diet' Decreases Brain Damage Risk
Transgender Thomas Beatie Expecting A Third Child
Transgender Thomas Beatie Expecting A Third Child
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights