Afghanistan/Pakistan: On Ground Updates - July 01, 2009

Afghanistan/Pakistan: On Ground Updates
Largest Marine Offensive since Vietnam -
Operation Khanjar - “Strike of the Sword” Begins
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
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Marines, Afghan Troops Launch Large Operation In Helmand
. U.S. Marine Corps file photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (July 2, 2008) - U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers and police launched a major operation in central Helmand Province today as forces from Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan (Task Force Leatherneck) and Afghan national security forces moved into towns and villages along the Helmand River valley in an effort to secure the local population from the threat of Taliban and other insurgent intimidation and violence.
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Nearly 4,000 Marines and sailors from Regimental Combat Team 3, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the MEB-Afghanistan Command Element constitute the bulk of the U.S. forces conducting Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword), along with approximately 650 Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces. Marine Aircraft Group 40 and Task Force Pegasus, the Combat Aviation Brigade of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, provided assault support and other aviation support for the mission.
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Similar operations in Helmand and Kandahar provinces have been underway as part of a concerted effort by ISAF to combat the ongoing insurgency, including Operation Panchai Palang (Panther Claw) initiated last week by Task Force Helmand, the U.K.-led force that operates adjacent to MEB-Afghanistan.
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"The operation in Nawa is going to be very effective," said Helmand Gov. Gulab Mangal. "The security forces will build bases to provide security for the local people so that they can carry out every activity with this favorable background, and take their lives forward in peace."
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MEB-Afghanistan is a subordinate unit of NATO's International Security Assistance Force. The combined U.S. and Afghan mission is to provide security for population centers along the Helmand River valley and connect local citizens with their legitimate government while establishing stable and secure conditions for national elections scheduled for August as well as enhanced security for the future.
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"What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert, and the fact that where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces," said Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commanding general of MEB-Afghanistan.

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Taken from a CENTCOM News Article - Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan
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AFP brings us the following report this Wednesday evening and it starts off like this… US Marines launched a massive offensive into the Taliban heartlands of southern Afghanistan early on Thursday as President Barack Obama's new war plan swung into action… Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) involved nearly 4,000 US forces as well as 650 Afghan police and soldiers, the Marine Expeditionary Brigade said, announcing the pre-dawn launch of the drive in southern Helmand province… Deploying about 50 aircraft, the air and land assault was to push troops into insurgent strongholds in what officers said was the biggest offensive airlift by the Marines since Vietnam… "What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert," MEB commander Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said in a statement… Troops would hold areas they take until they could transfer security responsibilities to Afghan forces, said Nicholson…
Read the rest of this report at link below…
US Marines storm south in major Afghan offensive
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BBC has this report up on their website this evening and it starts off like this... The United States army says it has launched a major offensive against the Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand… 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… Officers on the ground said it was the largest marine offensive since Vietnam…
Read the rest at link below…
US opens 'major Afghan offensive'

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God’s speed to our troops in having a successful mission.
May our casualties be none too few and our enemies many…
AubreyJ………