Afghan offensive

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Coalition leaders apologized for a rocket strike in that killed civilians during a large offensive against militants in southern Afghanistan.

Officials said 12 people -- nine of whom were civilians -- were killed when rockets hit a house in southern Helmand province. Such incidents have caused problems between the Afghan leadership and coalition leaders and U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal quickly apologized for the "tragic loss of life."

Monday marked the third day of Operations Moshtarak, with an allied force of about 15,000 moving through Helmand. The BBC said the advance was slowed by a large number of roadside bombs planted by insurgents. At least three coalition members were killed while more than 10 militants were reported to have died in the fighting.

Afghan military officials said areas the coalition planners focused on -- near Marjah and Nad Ali -- had been taken and Taliban members had fled. At a news conference, Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar issued a message to the Taliban that "there is no way you can win."

The New York Times said many Taliban left Marjah and crossed the border into Pakistan.