Marines squeeze Taliban supply routes

Times:

US Marines supported by British troops in Afghanistan now command three key locations south of the town of Garmsir, in Helmand province, putting pressure on the main supply routes of the Taleban for arms, opium and reinforcements.

For the first time since the Nato campaign expanded to the south in 2006 the Taleban stranglehold in this part of Helmand – stretching from the Pakistan border to Garmsir – has been weakened. Crucial vantage points are now held by 1,200 US Marines from 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) and 200 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots) battle group.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robin Matthews, the chief British spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said that the US men were guided by British troops as they moved at night “over extraordinarily difficult terrain . . . to launch their assault”.

The operation, which started on April 28 and involved helicopter and ground assaults, provided the US Marines from 24 MEU with their first offensive against the Taleban since they arrived in southern Afghanistan last month as a special reserve manoeuvre force for the Nato commander of Regional Command South. They have already lost two men.

...

The Brits think the Marines have "dislocated" the Taliban who were used to controlling this area. So far there are not reported Marine casualties and there are reports of several Taliban KIAs. I think the Taliban were surprised by the rapid movement to contact by the Marines who also brought superior firepower on Taliban dug in positions.

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