Kabul, Afghanistan – NATO forces on Tuesday launched the alliance’s largest offensive yet against insurgents in southern Afghanistan, marking the start of what both sides predict will be an intense round of fighting over the spring and summer.
The operation, centered in volatile Helmand province, will eventually involve 4,500 NATO troops and about 1,000 soldiers from the Afghan national army, military spokesmen said. Commanders declined to specify how many troops took part in the initial push or elaborate on the fighting that had taken place so far.
The offensive almost immediately claimed a NATO casualty, with a coalition soldier reported killed in combat in the south on Tuesday.
The soldier’s nationality was not immediately disclosed, nor were any Taliban casualties initially reported.
NATO has been vowing for months to root out thousands of fighters from the Taliban, who together with foreign militants have ensconced themselves in Helmand, the world’s largest producer of opium poppies.
Taliban and other militants have for some time been able to move freely in and out of the rugged province, which borders Pakistan. Alliance troops, however, lately have managed to kill several important insurgent figures in pinpoint raids in Helmand, including Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Osmani, slain in a U.S. airstrike in December.
Drug revenues are believed to be funding the strong comeback by the Taliban militia, which had been left scattered and demoralized after the Islamist movement was toppled in 2001 by U.S.-led forces. The allied offensive in part was aimed at disrupting the drug trade, Western military officials said.
NATO spokesmen said securing the area would pave the way for the resumption of reconstruction projects, which have been largely paralyzed in much of the south by spiraling violence.
The allied offensive, dubbed Operation Achilles, is open ended, according to coalition commanders. American, British, Canadian and Dutch troops were taking part in the fighting.
The U.S. contingent eventually will total about 1,500 troops, spokesmen said, but the number taking part in the offensive’s initial phase was not specified.
