NATO, Afghan Forces Start Offensive against Taliban in Afghanistan

A handout photograph dated 09 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010, showing ISAF troops at the “Fire Points” intersection, a key junction of roads linking the northern area of the insur

US and Afghan security forces have launched an offensive against the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

About 5 000 marines and 2 000 Afghan troops have started the attack against Marjah meeting resistance from Taliban militants, DPA reported.

A total of 15 000 NATO (including US, UK, French, Canadian, Danish, and Estonian) and Afghan troops are participating in the Mashtarak (i.e. “Together”) operation which is the largest offensive in Afghanistan since the US military operation there in October 2001.

About 125 000 people live in the region of Marjah, which has been outside the control of the central government of Afghanistan since 2001.

The province of Helmand together with the nearby Kandahar is a major opium poppy producer.