Reports: US starts offensive against Taliban in Afghanistan (1st Lead)

Washington - The US military has begun a large-scale offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, media reports said Thursday. Around 4,000 US marines and 650 Afghan soldiers were taking part in Operation Khanjar, which began early Thursday, US military spokesman said. The aim is to drive the Islamist militants out of the region, which has been a Taliban stronghold for years, they said. The operation is the first large military offensive in President Barack Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan. The soldiers are attempting to set up a series of bases and to stay in Helmand. The aim is to improve the security situation in the province long term and create stability, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said. The United States has reportedly deployed about 8,500 marines to Helmand in the past two months. As part of Obama's new strategy, the US contingent in Afghanistan would be strengthened by an extra 21,000 soldiers and there would be a new emphasis on civil and economic aid. Obama is prioritizing the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and in neighbouring Pakistan over the war in Iraq, where US troops withdrew from cities and towns Tuesday. General Stanley McChrystal, a specialist in covert operations, replaced David McKiernan as the US commander in Afghanistan in mid-June after the security situation there noticeably deteriorated. Militants carried out more than 400 attacks in the first week of June, according to the US commander in the Middle East and Central Asia, General David Petraeus. That was the highest figure since the US-led military overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001. In June last year, there were fewer than 250 Taliban attacks per week, and in January 2004, there were fewer than 50 per week, a spokesman for the four-star general said.