NATO Launches Biggest Afghan Offensive

Mar 06, 07:46 AM

Current Headlines: NATO announced Tuesday it had launched its largest joint offensive, involving some 5,500 troops, in Afghanistan against Taliban insurgents.

In a release, Dutch Maj. Gen. Ton van Loon, the NATO commander, said the push came at the request of Afghani President Hamid Karzai's government and involved the violent northern Helmand Province.

Van Loon said the offensive called Operation Achilles will involve 4,500 NATO troops and 1,000 Afghan forces and target Taliban fighters and drug traffickers in the poppy-growing regions.

We also intend to empower village elders to take charge of their communities as they have been doing so in other parts of southern Afghanistan, without the influence of Taliban extremists, the release said.

Van Loon said the long-term goal is to get the idle Kajaki dam and power generating system restored to provide drinking water, irrigation for farmlands and provide electrical power for residents and industries.