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| Civilians die in Afghan offensive | Civilians die in Afghan offensive |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Nato has confirmed that two rockets fired at militants during its offensive in Helmand, south Afghanistan, missed their target and killed 12 civilians. | Nato has confirmed that two rockets fired at militants during its offensive in Helmand, south Afghanistan, missed their target and killed 12 civilians. |
| The rockets struck a house in Marjah as thousands of Nato troops continued their operations to oust the Taliban. | The rockets struck a house in Marjah as thousands of Nato troops continued their operations to oust the Taliban. |
| Nato's commander Gen Stanley McChrystal said that "we deeply regret this tragic loss of life". | Nato's commander Gen Stanley McChrystal said that "we deeply regret this tragic loss of life". |
| Coalition forces are aiming to build on gains in Operation Moshtarak, tackling snipers and booby-traps on day two. | Coalition forces are aiming to build on gains in Operation Moshtarak, tackling snipers and booby-traps on day two. |
| A third Nato death related to the operation has also been confirmed. | A third Nato death related to the operation has also been confirmed. |
| Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. | Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. |
| The operation is also the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan. | The operation is also the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan. |
| Rocket system suspended | Rocket system suspended |
| Civilian casualties have been a key concern for the Nato-led offensive. | Civilian casualties have been a key concern for the Nato-led offensive. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| ABC's Miguel Marquez embedded with US Marines as they journey into Marjah | ABC's Miguel Marquez embedded with US Marines as they journey into Marjah |
| The regions targeted were leafleted well in advance to minimise casualties. | The regions targeted were leafleted well in advance to minimise casualties. |
| ANALYSIS Frank Gardner,BBC News, Kandahar | ANALYSIS Frank Gardner,BBC News, Kandahar |
| Building by building, compound by compound, US Marines and British troops are trying to clear Marjah and Nad Ali district of hundreds, possibly thousands, of booby traps planted by insurgents. The US military told me they had started receiving tip-offs from local residents about where the bombs were hidden. | Building by building, compound by compound, US Marines and British troops are trying to clear Marjah and Nad Ali district of hundreds, possibly thousands, of booby traps planted by insurgents. The US military told me they had started receiving tip-offs from local residents about where the bombs were hidden. |
| Many of those residents are believed to be cautious about welcoming government forces for fear they will soon depart again. Tribal councils are being held in both districts with the aim of persuading the population to back their government and not the Taliban. | Many of those residents are believed to be cautious about welcoming government forces for fear they will soon depart again. Tribal councils are being held in both districts with the aim of persuading the population to back their government and not the Taliban. |
| According to a senior Nato officer joint Afghan-Nato patrol bases will soon be set up in the area, and 900 newly trained Afghan police are poised to come into re-establish government control. | According to a senior Nato officer joint Afghan-Nato patrol bases will soon be set up in the area, and 900 newly trained Afghan police are poised to come into re-establish government control. |
| President Hamid Karzai has called for an investigation into the civilian deaths, his office said. Mr Karzai had urged Nato ahead of the operation to be careful to avoid civilian casualties. | President Hamid Karzai has called for an investigation into the civilian deaths, his office said. Mr Karzai had urged Nato ahead of the operation to be careful to avoid civilian casualties. |
| His office said in a statement that it believed at least 10 of those killed were from the same family. | His office said in a statement that it believed at least 10 of those killed were from the same family. |
| Nato said in a statement: "Two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launched at insurgents firing upon Afghan and [Nato] forces impacted approximately 300 metres (980ft) off their intended target, killing 12 civilians." | Nato said in a statement: "Two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launched at insurgents firing upon Afghan and [Nato] forces impacted approximately 300 metres (980ft) off their intended target, killing 12 civilians." |
| Gen McChrystal said: "The current operation in Central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan. | Gen McChrystal said: "The current operation in Central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan. |
| "It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost. | "It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost. |
| "We extend our heartfelt sympathies and will ensure we do all we can to avoid future incidents." | "We extend our heartfelt sympathies and will ensure we do all we can to avoid future incidents." |
| MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahPopulation of town estimated at 80,000; Marjah district: 125,000An area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandConsidered a centre for assembling roadside bombsLucrative supply centre for opium poppies, a Taliban revenue sourceEstimates of Taliban numbers ranged from 400 to 1,000 A question of trust In pictures: Moshtarak Details of the operation Operation Moshtarak: Diary | MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahPopulation of town estimated at 80,000; Marjah district: 125,000An area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandConsidered a centre for assembling roadside bombsLucrative supply centre for opium poppies, a Taliban revenue sourceEstimates of Taliban numbers ranged from 400 to 1,000 A question of trust In pictures: Moshtarak Details of the operation Operation Moshtarak: Diary |
| The use of the the rocket system involved has been suspended pending a review. | The use of the the rocket system involved has been suspended pending a review. |
| The Ministry of Defence has said that British troops were not involved in the incident. | The Ministry of Defence has said that British troops were not involved in the incident. |
| Meanwhile, US, UK and Afghan forces have faced gun battles and numerous booby-traps on day two of the offensive in Marjah and Nad Ali in Helmand province. | Meanwhile, US, UK and Afghan forces have faced gun battles and numerous booby-traps on day two of the offensive in Marjah and Nad Ali in Helmand province. |
| In Marjah, US Marine commander Brig Gen Larry Nicholson told Agence France-Presse his forces had "blown up a lot of IEDs" and come up against "a lot of sniper fire". | In Marjah, US Marine commander Brig Gen Larry Nicholson told Agence France-Presse his forces had "blown up a lot of IEDs" and come up against "a lot of sniper fire". |
| He said it could take up to 30 days to make the area safe. | He said it could take up to 30 days to make the area safe. |
| Marines were fired upon during a ceremony to raise the Afghan flag in Marjah. | |
| Another Marines spokesman, Lt Josh Diddams, told Associated Press that US forces were in the "majority of the city". | Another Marines spokesman, Lt Josh Diddams, told Associated Press that US forces were in the "majority of the city". |
| "We're starting to come across areas where the insurgents have actually taken up defensive positions. Initially it was more hit and run." | "We're starting to come across areas where the insurgents have actually taken up defensive positions. Initially it was more hit and run." |
| Nato officers and Afghan troops are holding shuras (meetings) with tribal leaders, and plan to bring in hundreds of Afghan police in the coming days to help secure the captured areas. | Nato officers and Afghan troops are holding shuras (meetings) with tribal leaders, and plan to bring in hundreds of Afghan police in the coming days to help secure the captured areas. |
| Casualties | Casualties |
| Operation Moshtarak began before dawn on Saturday when more than 15,000 troops flew into central Helmand. | Operation Moshtarak began before dawn on Saturday when more than 15,000 troops flew into central Helmand. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The "surge" approach drove most of the insurgents out of Iraq and there is no reason why it shouldn't work in AfghanistanAlan Trent, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The "surge" approach drove most of the insurgents out of Iraq and there is no reason why it shouldn't work in AfghanistanAlan Trent, London Send us your comments |
| American forces, led by 4,000 Marines, are focusing on Marjah, while 4,000 British troops are in Nad Ali. | American forces, led by 4,000 Marines, are focusing on Marjah, while 4,000 British troops are in Nad Ali. |
| A large Afghan force, as well as Canadians, Danes and Estonians, is also involved. | A large Afghan force, as well as Canadians, Danes and Estonians, is also involved. |
| Three Isaf deaths related to Operation Moshtarak have been confirmed. | Three Isaf deaths related to Operation Moshtarak have been confirmed. |
| On Saturday, a British soldier, Lance Sergeant David Greenhalgh of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, while a US soldier was killed by gunfire in Marjah. | On Saturday, a British soldier, Lance Sergeant David Greenhalgh of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, while a US soldier was killed by gunfire in Marjah. |
| On Sunday, another service member was killed in an IED attack. | On Sunday, another service member was killed in an IED attack. |
| At least 20 Taliban fighters were killed and another 11 detained on Saturday, an Afghan commander said. | At least 20 Taliban fighters were killed and another 11 detained on Saturday, an Afghan commander said. |
| 'Going well' | 'Going well' |
| At a Ministry of Defence briefing in London on Sunday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger said the operation overall had so far "gone to plan". | At a Ministry of Defence briefing in London on Sunday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger said the operation overall had so far "gone to plan". |
| "Nothing has stopped the mission from progressing," he said, although UK troops had taken small-arms fire. | "Nothing has stopped the mission from progressing," he said, although UK troops had taken small-arms fire. |
| AFP quoted President Obama's top security adviser, Gen James Jones, as also saying the offensive was "going well". | AFP quoted President Obama's top security adviser, Gen James Jones, as also saying the offensive was "going well". |
| President Obama will be briefed on Sunday by the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal. | President Obama will be briefed on Sunday by the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal. |
| 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 |
| Are you in Helmand province? What will the military operation there achieve? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Helmand province? What will the military operation there achieve? Send us your views using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |