NATO troops launch major Afghan assault, warns insurgents of “overwhelming force”
February 13th, 2010 - 8:57 pm ICT by BNO NewsKABUL (BNO NEWS) — An Afghan-international force of more than 15,000 soldiers launched a massive assault against insurgents in the country’s Helmand province. The operation is the biggest offensive since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
The Taliban-held Marjah district in the restive central Helmand province region is home to some of the most serious fighting between the coalition and Taliban. It has also some of the most fertile land in the country. The operation, which had been anticipated for weeks, has been dubbed “Operation Moshtarak” - which is a Dari word for “together.”
The goal of Operation Moshtarak is to clear the region of insurgents and set the conditions for the Afghan government to introduce increased security, stability, development, rule of law, freedom of movement and reconstruction. NATO also signaled a clear warning to insurgents who do not accept the government’s offer to reintegrate and join the political process: they will be met with “overwhelming force.”
The military operations, in which NATO said it will take the “strongest of measures” to protect the civilian population, will be followed by the establishment of an Afghan government presence in the cleared areas. “This will be supported by stabilization activity led by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team,” NATO said.
NATO-led ISAF officials are expected to release the initial results of the operation on Saturday afternoon local time.
The combined force of more than 15,000 soldiers includes approximately five brigades of Afghan forces (including members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Gendarmerie) and elements from the NATO-led ISAF Regional Command South.
The US elements from the ISAF force includes members of the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion 6th Marines, 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, 4th Battalion 23rd IN Stryker, Combat Engineer Battalion and the Light Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment.
Elements from the UK include members of the 1 Coldstream Guards Battle Group, the 1 Grenadier Guards Battle group, the 1 Royal Welsh Battle group, the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team.
Other elements include the Task Force Pegasus, Task Force Kandahar and service members from Denmark, Estonia and Canada.
- Suicide bomber reportedly hits NATO convoy as major offensive continues - Feb 13, 2010
- NATO apologizes for airstrike which killed Afghan women, children - May 30, 2011
- Security developments in Afghanistan, Jan 24 - Jan 25, 2010
- Security developments in Afghanistan, Jan 24 - Jan 24, 2010
- British, Estonian troops killed in southern Afghanistan - Oct 16, 2011
- Four Taliban killed in Afghanistan - Oct 08, 2011
- Rogue Afghan soldier kills two British troops in southern Afghanistan - Mar 26, 2012
- 12 killed in Afghan protest over civilian killings - May 18, 2011
- Spanish troops to start leaving Afghanistan in January - Dec 07, 2011
- 13 insurgents killed, 8 held in Afghanistan - Dec 10, 2011
- Turkish military helicopter crashes in Kabul, killing 16 - Mar 18, 2012
- American and Briton are first NATO casualties of Operation Moshtarak - Feb 14, 2010
- NATO says it accidentally killed five Afghan civilians - Feb 16, 2010
- Over 1,400 Haqqani fighters held in Afghanistan this year - Oct 10, 2011
- 14 killed in Afghan clashes - Aug 22, 2010
Tags: 1st battalion 3rd marines, 1st battalion 6th marines, 3rd battalion 6th marines, afghan border, afghan government, border police, civilian population, combat engineer battalion, fertile land, freedom of movement, government presence, helmand province, invasion of afghanistan, isaf force, national army, nato troops, overwhelming force, province region, provincial reconstruction team, regional command