US military launches major Taliban offensive
US military launches major offensive against Taliban in southern Afghanistan
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Thursday, 02, Jul 2009 09:37
The US military has launched a major offensive against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.
Around 4,000 Marines and 650 Afghan troops, supported by Nato aircraft, moved into the Helmand river valley in the early hours of this morning.
The operation is the first since US president Barack Obama took office and the Marines' first major offensive since their deployment to Afghanistan.
Around 50 aircraft have so far been used in Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) as the US military steps up efforts to break insurgent strongholds.
Discussing the operation thus far, Marine Expeditionary Brigade commander General Larry Nicholson said: "What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert."
He added the plan was take control of areas before handing them over to Afghan security forces, in an attempt to gain the local people's trust and show the country's troops are capable of providing a positive long-term future.
Mr Obama announced earlier in the year further troops would be sent to Afghanistan to help deal with the country's presidential elections in August.