Tuesday, February 9, 2010

U.S. Army soldiers have launched a major operation in support of a planned U.S.-Afghan attack on the largest Taliban-controlled town in southern Afghanistan.

About 400 U.S. troops from the 5th Stryker Brigade as well as 250 Afghan soldiers and their 30 Canadian trainers moved into positions northeast of Taliban-controlled Marjah.

There are no reports of casualties. Large plumes of smoke could be seen in the area and reporters traveling with the U.S. unit could hear the distant rattle of 50-caliber machine gun fire and detonations from MK-19s, which fire 40 millimeter grenades from Stryker vehicles.

U.S. officials have not said when the main attack on Marjah will take place.