Afghanistan’s operation Marjah – latest updates

US Marines and Afghan troops were bogged down by sniper fire and home-made bombs on the third day of their biggest offensive since the overthrow of the Taleban in 2001. Nato and allied forces were meeting fierce resistance in their battle to seize the Talebans main stronghold in southern Afghanistan, and were able to advance only 500 yards yesterday. Multiple firefights broke out in various areas in and around Marjah, the Talebans most important opium-growing centre in Helmand, the countrys most violent province. The US troops leading Operation Moshtarak (Togetherness) twice tried to capture the towns central bazaar only to be pushed back by wellorganised insurgents. Coming under heavy fire and sniper attacks, and confronted by booby-trapped buildings, the US Marines were forced to call in Harrier jets and attack helicopters armed with Hellfire missiles. Captain Abraham Spice, a US Marines spokesman, said: In many parts of Marjah, we have seen very little opposition. There are areas where Marines have met with stiff resistance, but theyre making steady progress. US officers from Bravo Company 1st Battalion 6th Marine told The Times that the fighting on the first day had been as intense as any the unit faced during the infamous clearance of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004. The skill displayed by Taleban insurgents showed high levels of tactical awareness and training — including walking mortar fire on to the Marines and persistent and accurate sniper fire. The unit has lost one …
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