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| Nato hails Afghanistan operation | Nato hails Afghanistan operation |
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| Nato forces in Afghanistan have hailed as a success the first phase of a major operation to oust the Taliban from two key districts of Helmand in the south. | Nato forces in Afghanistan have hailed as a success the first phase of a major operation to oust the Taliban from two key districts of Helmand in the south. |
| More than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into Marjah and Nad Ali before dawn on Saturday. Officials said key day one objectives had been met. | More than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into Marjah and Nad Ali before dawn on Saturday. Officials said key day one objectives had been met. |
| Overnight there was limited fighting, but no casualties were reported. Two Nato deaths were confirmed on Saturday. | Overnight there was limited fighting, but no casualties were reported. Two Nato deaths were confirmed on Saturday. |
| Operation Moshtarak is the biggest attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. | Operation Moshtarak is the biggest attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. |
| 'Minimal interference' | 'Minimal interference' |
| Moshtarak - which means "together" in the Dari language - is being led by 4,000 US marines, supported by 4,000 British troops, a large Afghan force and Canadians, Danes and Estonians. | Moshtarak - which means "together" in the Dari language - is being led by 4,000 US marines, supported by 4,000 British troops, a large Afghan force and Canadians, Danes and Estonians. |
| ANALYSIS Frank Gardner,BBC News, Kandahar | ANALYSIS Frank Gardner,BBC News, Kandahar |
| It was the largest helicopter-borne assault ever undertaken in Afghanistan and it was almost unopposed. Sixty coalition helicopters took off before dawn to insert thousands of US, British and Afghan troops. But the real challenge is following this military manoeuvre with lasting security for the residents of central Helmand. | It was the largest helicopter-borne assault ever undertaken in Afghanistan and it was almost unopposed. Sixty coalition helicopters took off before dawn to insert thousands of US, British and Afghan troops. But the real challenge is following this military manoeuvre with lasting security for the residents of central Helmand. |
| The Taliban and other insurgents have kept a relatively low profile during this offensive but intelligence officers here at operation headquarters in Kandahar believe they are likely to try to exploit any opportunity to reverse the gains made by Nato and the Afghan government forces. | The Taliban and other insurgents have kept a relatively low profile during this offensive but intelligence officers here at operation headquarters in Kandahar believe they are likely to try to exploit any opportunity to reverse the gains made by Nato and the Afghan government forces. |
| This operation is the first major test for President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan. Its success or failure depends on whether it can be swiftly followed by security and good governance. | This operation is the first major test for President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan. Its success or failure depends on whether it can be swiftly followed by security and good governance. |
| The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying US Marines and members of the Afghan National Army into Marjah. British and Afghan troops then flew into Nad Ali district, to the north, followed by tanks and combat units. | The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying US Marines and members of the Afghan National Army into Marjah. British and Afghan troops then flew into Nad Ali district, to the north, followed by tanks and combat units. |
| On Saturday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger told a briefing in London there had been "sporadic fighting" and the Taliban were unable to "put up a coherent response". | On Saturday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger told a briefing in London there had been "sporadic fighting" and the Taliban were unable to "put up a coherent response". |
| "The key objectives have been secured and have been done so with minimal interference," he said. | "The key objectives have been secured and have been done so with minimal interference," he said. |
| However, one British soldier, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed by an explosion in Nad Ali. A US soldier was meanwhile killed by small-arms fire, officials said. | However, one British soldier, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed by an explosion in Nad Ali. A US soldier was meanwhile killed by small-arms fire, officials said. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the UK forces for their action. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the UK forces for their action. |
| He said: "This day will be long remembered as the day when a new phase of the campaign to win the support of the people of Afghanistan was initiated. And I'm very proud of the exceptional role that British forces have played in that." | He said: "This day will be long remembered as the day when a new phase of the campaign to win the support of the people of Afghanistan was initiated. And I'm very proud of the exceptional role that British forces have played in that." |
| A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama was keeping a close eye on combat operations and had had multiple updates. He was also to be briefed by the top US commander in Afghanistan on Sunday morning. | A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama was keeping a close eye on combat operations and had had multiple updates. He was also to be briefed by the top US commander in Afghanistan on Sunday morning. |
| A senior US official told the BBC that "it seems that all of our objectives for day one have been met" adding that "this seems to have been achieved with minimum loss of life and minimum violence". | A senior US official told the BBC that "it seems that all of our objectives for day one have been met" adding that "this seems to have been achieved with minimum loss of life and minimum violence". |
| 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 In pictures: Operation Moshtarak Conflict reaches critical juncture Details on Operation Moshtarak Operation Moshtarak: Diary | 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 In pictures: Operation Moshtarak Conflict reaches critical juncture Details on Operation Moshtarak Operation Moshtarak: Diary |
| But the official added: "We still believe there to be armed insurgents in the area and in waiting." | But the official added: "We still believe there to be armed insurgents in the area and in waiting." |
| Residents of Marjah said Taliban fighters had fallen back into the centre of the town, and there were reports of gun battles throughout Saturday. | Residents of Marjah said Taliban fighters had fallen back into the centre of the town, and there were reports of gun battles throughout Saturday. |
| A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, spoke to a number of news agencies, saying insurgents were still resisting in Marjah and were engaged in hit-and-run tactics. | A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, spoke to a number of news agencies, saying insurgents were still resisting in Marjah and were engaged in hit-and-run tactics. |
| The commander of Afghan troops in the operation, Mohammad Zazai, said 20 militants had so far been killed and 11 detained. | The commander of Afghan troops in the operation, Mohammad Zazai, said 20 militants had so far been killed and 11 detained. |
| It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based in the region before Operation Moshtarak was launched. | It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based in the region before Operation Moshtarak was launched. |
| Nato's aim is to secure Marjah and its surrounding area, which have a population of about 125,000, as soon as possible and then bring in aid and public services. | Nato's aim is to secure Marjah and its surrounding area, which have a population of about 125,000, as soon as possible and then bring in aid and public services. |
| 'Civilian support' | 'Civilian support' |
| In Kabul, Nato civilian representative Mark Sedwill said the news of the Nato-led attack "appeared to be positive" although he stressed it was still early. | In Kabul, Nato civilian representative Mark Sedwill said the news of the Nato-led attack "appeared to be positive" although he stressed it was still early. |
| He said it was vital to bring in "civilian support from the Afghan government" as soon as possible. | He said it was vital to bring in "civilian support from the Afghan government" as soon as possible. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We have little choice. We pull out, Pakistan falls. This is the era of the new domino theory.David Cheshire, Dorset, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY We have little choice. We pull out, Pakistan falls. This is the era of the new domino theory.David Cheshire, Dorset, UK Send us your comments |
| Afghan Defence Minister Gen Rahim Wardak also said it was important to bring in local security forces quickly. | Afghan Defence Minister Gen Rahim Wardak also said it was important to bring in local security forces quickly. |
| He said there had been "sporadic resistance" and there was a threat from booby-traps left by the Taliban. | He said there had been "sporadic resistance" and there was a threat from booby-traps left by the Taliban. |
| "The area has been heavily mined, that's why we are moving so slowly," he said in Kabul. | "The area has been heavily mined, that's why we are moving so slowly," he said in Kabul. |
| US Marine ordnance units are working their way through Marjah, finding and exploding bombs. Three US soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan, Nato said, although was unclear if it was related to 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 had distributed leaflets in the area warning of the planned offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties. | Nato had distributed leaflets in the area warning of the planned offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties. |
| 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. |
| OPERATION MOSHTARAK: DAY ONE - 13 FEBRUARY 2010 1: Consolidation of security2: UK/Danish troops disrupt Taliban movements3: Forces secure Canal 56 crossings4: Helicopter insertions5: Helicopter and ground insertions into Marjah | OPERATION MOSHTARAK: DAY ONE - 13 FEBRUARY 2010 1: Consolidation of security2: UK/Danish troops disrupt Taliban movements3: Forces secure Canal 56 crossings4: Helicopter insertions5: Helicopter and ground insertions into Marjah |
| Source: UK Ministry of Defence | Source: UK Ministry of Defence |