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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Major offensive targets Helmand | Major offensive targets Helmand |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 areas of Marjah and Nad Ali in a bid to secure government control. | There were clashes as more than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into the Helmand areas 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 Taliban bases had been captured. | The Afghan Army said 70% of Marjah had been cleared, while a UK commander said 11 Taliban bases had been captured. |
| A Taliban commander reportedly said his men were retreating to spare civilians. | 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 the US Marine Corps, supported by 4,000 British troops, with Canadians, Danes and Estonians. | Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the local Dari language - is being led by the US Marine Corps, supported by 4,000 British troops, with Canadians, Danes and Estonians. |
| 'Heavily booby-trapped' | '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. | 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 PannellBBC News, Nad Ali There are the best part of 100 British troops here together with the Afghan National Army. They've moved much faster than they expected. | AT THE SCENE Ian PannellBBC News, Nad Ali There are the best part of 100 British troops here together with the Afghan National Army. They've moved much faster than they expected. |
| We arrived here under the cover of darkness with a whole series of helicopters ferrying troops out to different parts of the district. We landed at about 0400 and waited in a field until first light then started to move through the village where we are now. | We arrived here under the cover of darkness with a whole series of helicopters ferrying troops out to different parts of the district. We landed at about 0400 and waited in a field until first light then started to move through the village where we are now. |
| There has been not much sign of insurgents or, indeed, the local population - they seem to have fled in advance. | There has been not much sign of insurgents or, indeed, the local population - they seem to have fled in advance. |
| We have heard a few booms in the distance - we believe those are controlled explosions of IEDs. So far, and it's early days, UK forces seem pleased with how things have gone. Operation Moshtarak: Diary | We have heard a few booms in the distance - we believe those are controlled explosions of IEDs. So far, and it's early days, UK forces seem pleased with how things have gone. 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Troops have been advancing carefully, picking their way through poppy fields, trying not to set off Taliban bombs. |
| Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal told a news conference the Taliban had "heavily booby-trapped the area", reports Reuters. | 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. | 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. | Nato says Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in the south. |
| 'On the hop' | 'On the hop' |
| It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based there before Operation Moshtarak was launched. | It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based there before Operation Moshtarak was launched. |
| MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahLies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandArea considered a centre for assembling roadside bombsKey supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for TalibanEstimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000 Population of Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah district is thought to have 125,000 Who are the Taliban? Conflict reaches critical juncture Details on Operation Moshtarak | MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahLies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandArea considered a centre for assembling roadside bombsKey supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for TalibanEstimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000 Population of Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah district is thought to have 125,000 Who are the Taliban? Conflict reaches critical juncture Details on Operation Moshtarak |
| Marjah has also long been regarded as a linchpin of the lucrative network for smuggling opium - the raw ingredient used to make heroin - harvested from Helmand's poppy fields. | Marjah has also long been regarded as a linchpin of the lucrative network for smuggling opium - the raw ingredient used to make heroin - harvested from Helmand's poppy fields. |
| Nato Commander Maj Gen Nick Carter told the BBC that 11 objectives had already been taken and the offensive had been "so far extremely successful". | Nato Commander Maj Gen Nick Carter told the BBC that 11 objectives had already been taken and the offensive had been "so far extremely successful". |
| "Indeed it would appear that we've caught the insurgents on the hop - he appears to be completely dislocated," he said. | "Indeed it would appear that we've caught the insurgents on the hop - he appears to be completely dislocated," he said. |
| The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying US Marines into Marjah in the early hours of Saturday. | The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying US Marines into Marjah in the early hours of Saturday. |
| British troops then flew into Nad Ali district, to the north, followed by tanks and combat units. | British troops then flew into Nad Ali district, to the north, followed by tanks and combat units. |
| Jets and helicopters fired missiles at Taliban tunnels, bunkers and other defensive positions. | Jets and helicopters fired missiles at Taliban tunnels, bunkers and other defensive positions. |
| There have been firefights and sporadic insurgent rocket fire. | There have been firefights and sporadic insurgent rocket fire. |
| 'Civilians in danger' | 'Civilians in danger' |
| Mullah Mohammed - a Taliban commander in Marjah - told ABC News that his men were pulling back to spare any civilian casualties. | Mullah Mohammed - a Taliban commander in Marjah - told ABC News that his men were pulling back to spare any civilian casualties. |
| Residents of Marjah fear being trapped between troops and militants | Residents of Marjah fear being trapped between troops and militants |
| "We found civilians in massive danger so we decided to go backward just to save villagers lives," he said. His claim cannot be verified. | |
| Nato had distributed leaflets in the Marjah area warning of the planned offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties. | Nato had distributed leaflets in the Marjah area warning of the planned offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties. |
| Earlier this week British forces began a "softening up" process, taking part in a Nato ground and air offensive on insurgent positions. | Earlier this week British forces began a "softening up" process, taking part in a Nato ground and air offensive on insurgent positions. |
| For the first time Afghan forces have been at the forefront of planning and will share the burden of the fighting. | For the first time Afghan forces have been at the forefront of planning and will share the burden of the fighting. |
| More than 1,900 Afghan police will provide support after the initial military operations end, and a large team of Afghan administrators has been assembled. | More than 1,900 Afghan police will provide support after the initial military operations end, and a large team of Afghan administrators has been assembled. |
| The operation is part of an effort to secure a 320-km (200-mile) horseshoe-shaped string of towns that runs along the Helmand River, through Kandahar and on to the Pakistani border. | The operation is part of an effort to secure a 320-km (200-mile) horseshoe-shaped string of towns that runs along the Helmand River, through Kandahar and on to the Pakistani border. |
| The area holds 85% of the population of Kandahar and Helmand. | The area holds 85% of the population of Kandahar and Helmand. |
| Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand province | Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand province |