The US army says it has launched a major offensive against the Taliban in south Afghanistan's Helmand province. The US military says about 4,000 Marines as well as 650 Afghan troops are involved, supported by Nato planes. Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said the operation was different from previous ones because of the "massive size of the force" and its speed.
A Taliban spokesman said they would resist in various ways and that there would be no permanent US victory.
Qari Yosuf Ahmadi added that "a large number" of Taliban were in the area. "I cannot accept the fact that 4,000 US troops have taken part in this operation," he said, quoted by the Afghan AIP news agency. "I consider it a part of a psychological war, but if 4,000 US troops really are taking part in the operation, they will not have any permanent victory."
Map: Helmand river valley region
Meanwhile the US military reported that a soldier had been captured by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday. He was not part of the current operation.
Lack of capacity The offensive is the Marines' first major operation since their recent deployment to Afghanistan.
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