Thursday, July 2, 2009

Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 2, 2009

Marines unloaded supplies from a helicopter in Afghanistan's Helmand River valley, where a new offensive against Taliban insurgents was underway. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

US Marines Launch Major Offensive In Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP

NAWA, Afghanistan – Thousands of U.S. Marines poured from helicopters and armored vehicles into Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan on Thursday in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country.

The offensive was launched shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday local time (4:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, 2030 GMT Wednesday) in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and the world's largest opium poppy-producing area. The goal is to clear insurgents from the hotly contested region before the nation's Aug. 20 presidential election.

The Marines have not suffered any serious casualties and have seen only a sporadic resistance, said Lt. Abe Sipe, a spokesman for the unit.

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U.S. marines move in formation through farm fields on Thursday after landing by helicopter in an overnight air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province. (David Guttenfelder/Associated Press)

More News On Afghanistan

U.S. begins major Afghan assault, soldier kidnapped -- Yahoo News/Reuters
US Marines storm south in major Afghan offensive -- Yahoo News/AFP
U.S. Marines Try to Retake Afghan Valley From Taliban -- New York Times
US Launches South Afghan Offensive -- Wall Street Journal
US Marines Try to Retake Afghan Valley From Taliban -- New York Times
US Launches Major Offensive Against Taliban -- The Times
US Marines launch major new offensive in Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor
US Marines Launch Major Operation in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
US-Afghan Push Targets Taliban Haven -- Associated Press
Marines Launch New Afghan Mission -- Washington Post
Operation targets Taliban heartland -- BBC
On the Afghanistan Frontier, Change May Be at Hand -- Los Angeles Times
Two British soldiers killed by Afghanistan bomb -- Times Online
Pakistan re-deploys some forces for U.S. Afghan push -- Reuters
Pakistan moves to block Taliban fleeing U.S. drive -- CBC
9 Taliban militants killed in S Afghanistan -- China View
FACTBOX: Five facts about Afghanistan's Helmand province -- Reuters
High-Tech Soldiers Head for Combat in Afghanistan -- FOX News
No Limit in Place for Pending Request on Troops in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
War for Afghanistan starts today. Got that -- The Telegraph
The American surge in Afghanistan is an embarrassment to Britain -- The Telegraph
Q&A: How will new assault change the war in Afghanistan? -- Reuters
At least 641 US military deaths in Afghanistan region since 2001, Defense Department says -- Sun Sentinel

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