Final prep for massive UK-Afghan assault
British and Afghan troops begin final preparations for major anti-Taliban offensive in south of country
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 04, Feb 2010 05:41
By Matthew Champion.
British and Afghan troops have begun final preparations for a major anti-Taliban offensive in the south of the country.
The "shaping up" stage of Operation Mostarak - Dari for 'together' - is now underway in Helmand province, which means the military operation itself is imminent.
The offensive will eventually target the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, where up to 1,000 fighters and the group's opium headquarters are thought to be based
A Ministry of Defence spokesman told inthenews.co.uk the operation was now subject to an "increased tempo" but that it "wasn't show-time yet".
US marines and other Nato International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) troops are also involved in the offensive, the largest show of strength since Barack Obama's 30,000-strong troops surge.
According to reports the total western involvement in the operation makes it the most significant launched since the US-led invasion in 2001.
Eric Tremblay, Nato spokesman, said aim of the assault was to "clear, hold and build, and deliver alternatives for all the Afghans".
The last major UK offensive in the region was Operation Panther's Claw, which claimed the lives of ten British troops as they cleared an area the size of the Isle of Wight from Taliban interference prior to last year's presidential elections.
In total 253 UK troops have died in the last nine years - two short from the total British death-toll in the Falklands war.