MARJAH, Afghanistan, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- U.S.-led NATO and Afghan forces moved toward the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Afghanistan Tuesday fighting pockets of heavy resistance, officials said.
The massive "Operation Moshtarak," or Operation Togetherness, began Saturday to take control of the opium capital of Marjah region in southern Helmand province, regarded as the most dangerous and violent area in the country. About 15,000 U.S., British and Afghan troops are involved in the operation, fighting over an area of less than 100 square miles with a population of 80,000, The Times of London reported.
The operation is going "very smooth" so far, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mark Dietz told CNN, as his troops, constantly evading booby traps and roadside bombs, planned to clear the town "from the inside out."
The Marines, facing ambushes, spent Monday clearing buildings on the way to securing a bridge, The New York Times reported.
An earlier report on the Web site of NATO's International Security Assistance Force said: "Elements of the combined force have been engaged in periodic small arms fire fights, and a number of insurgents have been either killed or detained. The combined force has sustained some injuries."
"In many parts of Marjah, we have seen very little opposition. There are areas where Marines have met with stiff resistance, but they're making steady progress," The Times of London quoted U.S. Marines spokesman Capt. Abraham Spice.
The CNN report said the entire operation also is under severe pressure to limit casualties. On Sunday, 12 civilians died in a rocket attack, which earlier had been reported by the ISAF as resulting from a rocket hitting about 650 yards from its intended target.
However, CNN quoted a senior ISAF official as saying later the rocket was not off target but that troops hit a building they had aimed while not knowing civilians were inside.
