 |
Afghanistan
US soldier captured as 4,000 troops deployed
Article published on the 2009-07-02 Latest update 2009-07-02 13:11 TU
A US gunner in a Chinook helicopter over Kabul on 1 July 2009
(Photo: Reuters)
Around 4,000 US troops and about 650 police and soldiers from Afghan security forces have been deployed in an anti-Taliban offensive in the south of the country. Operation Khanjar is the first major manoeuvre since US President Barack Obama announced the sending of 21,000 extra troops for the war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the US military announced on Thursday that a US soldier who went missing earlier in the week had been captured by militants, the first incident of its kind since US forces entered Afghanistan in 2001.
As the operation got under way, a US military spokesperson confirmed that a US soldier missing since 30 May has been captured by the Taliban. It is thought to be the first time a US soldier has been captured since invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
A Taliban commander confirmed that they had taken the soldier and three Afghans near the border with Pakistan. They said he had been taken to a safe place, and a video of the soldier, plus their demands would be issued shortly.
Operation Khanjar, means "strike of the sword", is intended to push the American operation into areas controlled by the Taliban in the country’s south.
US Marine commanders are hoping the fighting will be brief and aim to break through Taliban lines and meet local people within hours.
US soldiers and convoy in lower Helmand valley on 2 July 2009
(Photo: Reuters)
The first phase is expected to last approximately 36 hours as soldiers push down the Helmand River valley.
US Commanders hope the mission will convince locals that eradicating the Taliban will offer them a better long-term future and enable voter registrations in areas where otherwise there would have been none.
Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence announced that two British soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday. They died near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, taking the number of British service personnel killed in action since the US-led invasion in 2001 to 171.
 US Marines launch major anti-Taliban offensive |
