Kandahar, February 14: Several foreign soldiers were killed Saturday, February 13, within hours of launching a major onslaught on Taliban stronghold in the southern Helmand province.
“Three ISAF service members from the United States died following an IED strike in southern Afghanistan today,” NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement, referring to improvised explosive devices.
A US soldier was also reported killed and several were wounded in a suicide bombing in Kandahar.
“There was a suicide bombing near the vehicles of US forces,” Afghan army officer Captain Abdul Rahman said.
“One US soldier was killed, three others were wounded and an Afghan civilian was killed and four others were wounded.”
NATO said it was unable to immediately confirm the death.
Five Taliban fighters were also killed in clashes with US troops in Marjah.
The casualties came within hours of launching a major assault on Taliban stronghold in Helmand.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced today that key military ‘clearing’ operations for Operation Mushtarak have begun in central Helmand,” (ISAF) said.
“These ‘clearing’ operations follow the smaller-scaled ‘shaping’ operations that have helped set the conditions for this new phase of operations.”
The offensive dubbed Mushtarak (“Together”) is the biggest push since US President Barack Obama announced a new surge of troops to Afghanistan and is considered critical for the US and NATO mission in the country.
There are more than 114,000 foreign troops currently deployed in war-ravaged Afghanistan and the number is due to rise to nearly 150,000 this year.
Resistance
Thousands of troops helicoptered early morning into Marjah, meeting with resistance from Taliban fighters.
“There are a lot of mines in the area, and they are being defused as troops detect them,” Helmand governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal said.
“We have seized 11 key locations in the district and the resistance from the insurgents has been subdued.”
Marjah residents were woken in the early hours by the roar of helicopters flying troops into the city.
“When we woke up this morning we saw American soldiers were standing in main places like the centre of Marjah town, on main roads and around the biggest canals,” resident Hafeezullah said.
“There were no Taliban to be seen in these main places, but they might be present in the villages.”
Thousands of terrified Afghan civilians have already fled the area over the US-led offensive.
“All the walls between the streets and houses are surrounded by bombs,” resident Abdel Aziz, 16, told US troops through a translator.
“Most people have gone to Lashkar Gah. That’s where we want to go today.”
-Agencies