The offensive began under cover of darkness Nato-led forces say they are making good progress hours after launching the biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. There were clashes as more than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into the Helmand districts of Marjah and Nad Ali in a bid to secure government control. The Afghan Army said 70% of Marjah had been cleared, while a UK commander said 11 insurgent bases had been captured. A Taliban commander reportedly said his men were retreating to spare civilians. Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the local Dari language - is being led by 4,000 US Marines, supported by 4,000 British troops, with Canadians, Danes and Estonians. 'Heavily booby-trapped' The BBC's Frank Gardner, with Nato forces at Kandahar airbase, says the test of the operation's success will not be on the battlefield. AT THE SCENE Ian Pannell Ian Pannell BBC News, Nad Ali It's been a very successful day for British forces. They were able to move into several key villages and establish a foothold. Broadly speaking, they met little resistance. There was sporadic gunfire. One RPG was fired over the location where we are based. It's fair to say that the Taliban decided to move out of the district. Many civilians have also left, and the challenge in the coming days and weeks is to persuade them to come back, to establish meaningful security and then allow meaningful governance to take place. What will make a difference is if there is meaningful security established and if the local people feel confident enough to place their faith in local security forces. This is an operation that has only just begun and it will take weeks and months before we know how successful it has been. Operation Moshtarak: Diary It all depends on whether the coalition can hold the ground and bring lasting security and good governance to the population of central Helmand. Hours after the attack was launched, three US soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device, Nato said, although it is not yet clear if they were part of Operation Moshtarak. Five members of the Taliban were killed and two arrested in the opening stages of the assault, Afghan officials said. Troops have been advancing carefully, picking their way through poppy fields, trying not to set off Taliban bombs. A canal bridge into Marjah was so rigged with explosives that US Marines had to erect temporary crossings to reach the town, reports the Associated Press. Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal told a news conference the Taliban had "heavily booby-trapped the area", reports Reuters. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who approved Operation Moshtarak, warned troops to avoid civilian casualties, and called on Taliban fighters to lay down their weapons. Nato says Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in the south. 'On the hop' It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based there before Operation … [Read more...]
