British attack Taliban in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- One soldier was killed and several wounded in the largest combat operation undertaken yet by British troops against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

As many as 3,000 of the 7,000 British troops in Afghanistan were involved in Saturday night's battle against the Taliban's most strategic stronghold in southern Afghanistan, Britain's Telegraph reported Sunday.

One British soldier died Saturday as helicopters and combat jets attacked the Taliban stronghold in Musa Qala in Helmand province, where the Taliban claim to have nearly 2,000 fighters, the Telegraph reported. The number of Taliban casualties was not known.

In fighting during the past several days, Taliban commanders have said their fighters were prepared to fight to the death while others would engage in suicide attacks against advancing British soldiers, the Telegraph reported.

The Taliban reportedly have spent months laying minefields, building bunkers and digging trenches in preparation for the British attack.