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UK forces launch Taliban assault | UK forces launch Taliban assault |
(about 3 hours later) | |
More than 700 UK troops have launched a major offensive against insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan. | More than 700 UK troops have launched a major offensive against insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan. |
The soldiers from the Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian are taking part in the third wave of Operation Panther's Claw, which began two weeks ago in Helmand. | The soldiers from the Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian are taking part in the third wave of Operation Panther's Claw, which began two weeks ago in Helmand. |
The assault came as US and Afghan forces began a separate assault on the Taliban in the province's south. | The assault came as US and Afghan forces began a separate assault on the Taliban in the province's south. |
The co-ordinated "surge" of soldiers aims to make the area safe ahead of presidential elections in August. | |
The UK's Operation Panther's Claw began a fortnight ago with an air assault on the region of Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah. | The UK's Operation Panther's Claw began a fortnight ago with an air assault on the region of Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah. |
More than 350 troops from the Black Watch were dropped into the area backed by 12 Chinook helicopters in what the Ministry of Defence described as one of the largest air operations in modern times. | More than 350 troops from the Black Watch were dropped into the area backed by 12 Chinook helicopters in what the Ministry of Defence described as one of the largest air operations in modern times. |
UK soldiers die in Afghanistan | |
Two British soldiers taking part in the operation - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment - were killed in an explosion in Helmand on Wednesday. | Two British soldiers taking part in the operation - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment - were killed in an explosion in Helmand on Wednesday. |
Lt Col Thorneloe was the highest ranking officer to be killed in action since the Falklands War. | |
Thousands of British forces have been fighting the Taliban in Helmand since 2006. So far 171 have died and hundreds more have injured. | |
The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is travelling with UK troops in Helmand, says the latest phase of the offensive involves a major land assault, with soldiers backed up by artillery and air support. | The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is travelling with UK troops in Helmand, says the latest phase of the offensive involves a major land assault, with soldiers backed up by artillery and air support. |
Our correspondent said while the British had taken some key towns, their effectiveness had been limited by a lack of resources. | |
However, the arrival of thousands of US marines had now freed up the Light Dragoons battle group to launch its latest offensive, he added. | However, the arrival of thousands of US marines had now freed up the Light Dragoons battle group to launch its latest offensive, he added. |
A US assault, involving 4,000 marines has also launched | |
The assault has been co-ordinated with the ongoing US operation to the south - named Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword. | The assault has been co-ordinated with the ongoing US operation to the south - named Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword. |
About 4,000 marines as well as 650 Afghan troops - supported by Nato planes - have been involved in the surge, launched in the early hours of Thursday. | |
General Jack Keane - former vice chief of the US Army and the architect of the "surge strategy" in Iraq - told the BBC that the object of the new offensive was to "take momentum" away from the Taliban. | |
He said: "The first thing we must do is establish security. My concern is - just as we did in Iraq - we will try to go ahead and not truly put in all the resources necessary to get security." | |
The joint large-scale operation is the first since US President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of 21,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan, as part of a new strategy for winning the conflict. | |
Many of those troops are being redeployed from operations in Iraq. | Many of those troops are being redeployed from operations in Iraq. |