United States Marines storming into southern Afghanistan are facing a "hell of a fight" in some districts while others are "suspiciously" quiet, their commander has said. After meeting little resistance in the first day of Operation Khanjar, or 'sword strike', he said units south of Garmsir were involved in heavy fighting. American marines lost a single soldier during the first 24 hours of the 4,000-strong assault on the Taliban heartlands of southern Helmand province.The operation is the first big push of President Barack Obama's surge strategy which has seen 21,000 reinforcements ordered to the country this year.
After meeting little resistance in the first day of Operation Khanjar, or 'sword strike', he said units south of Garmsir were involved in heavy fighting.
American marines lost a single soldier during the first 24 hours of the 4,000-strong assault on the Taliban heartlands of southern Helmand province.
The operation is the first big push of President Barack Obama's surge strategy which has seen 21,000 reinforcements ordered to the country this year.
The first casualties have been reported as a US-led assault on Taliban-controlled areas in southern Afghanistan has entered its second day. A US marine was killed and several others injured during sporadic battles in Helmand province during the first 24 hours of the offensive, the military said. Marines pushed further into the province's districts of Garmsir and Nawa on Friday after US and Afghan forces reportedly seized control of Khanishin, towards the border with Pakistan, a day earlier, a US official told the AFP news agency. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Lashkar Gah, said that the governor of Helmand province was confident that the operation would succeed, but the Taliban were as defiant as ever. "They are denying that the marines as well as the Afghan national army are in control of Khanishin," she said. "They are saying the US marines only control one hill and that they have decided to confront them. Even if they control a certain number of villages, they will not be able to keep them."....Pentagon officials have said that the plan - the largest offensive by the US marines since Vietnam - is not just to inflict casualties against the enemy, but to dig in and hold on to territory.
The first casualties have been reported as a US-led assault on Taliban-controlled areas in southern Afghanistan has entered its second day.
A US marine was killed and several others injured during sporadic battles in Helmand province during the first 24 hours of the offensive, the military said.
Marines pushed further into the province's districts of Garmsir and Nawa on Friday after US and Afghan forces reportedly seized control of Khanishin, towards the border with Pakistan, a day earlier, a US official told the AFP news agency.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Lashkar Gah, said that the governor of Helmand province was confident that the operation would succeed, but the Taliban were as defiant as ever.
"They are denying that the marines as well as the Afghan national army are in control of Khanishin," she said.
"They are saying the US marines only control one hill and that they have decided to confront them. Even if they control a certain number of villages, they will not be able to keep them."
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Pentagon officials have said that the plan - the largest offensive by the US marines since Vietnam - is not just to inflict casualties against the enemy, but to dig in and hold on to territory.
