The Philippine Online Chronicles

More than 4,000 NATO-led British forces have started a major operation in Helmand province in Afghanistan, as part of efforts to clear the areas of Marjah and Nad Ali in a bid to secure government control. Marjah is considered the last stronghold of the Talibans.

Operation Moshtarak, which means "together" in the local Dari language, is the biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. It is being led by the US Marine Corps, supported by British troops, with Canadians, Danes and Estonians. Troops from the Afghan National Army are also participating in the offensive that will largely be conducted on foot. Almost 15,000 coalition forces are expected to be involved in the operation.

The ground assault followed hours after an initial wave of helicopters carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines and Afghan troops swooped into town early Saturday. Cobra helicopters fired Hellfire missiles at tunnels, bunkers and other defensive positions, Associated Press reported. Afghan officials told BBC that five members of the Taliban were killed and two arrested in the opening stages of the assault.

NATO Commander Major Gen. Nick Carter says that 11 objectives of the operation had already been taken and the offensive had been "so far extremely successful." It is thought the Taliban have prepared defences and planted many improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the routes they expect troops to take.

So far, Moshtarak is the largest British military operation in Afghanisthan, bigger than Operation Panther Claw which left 10 UK soldiers dead and many others seriously wounded, according to a report. For the past 8 years, 253 UK forces and personnel have been killed in Afghanistan.

The assault on Marjah is a major test of a new NATO strategy focused on protecting civilians. Moshtarak is also the first major combat operation since US President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 US reinforcements in Afghanistan to try to turn the tide of the war.