US, British and Canadian troops launched a pre-dawn offensive against Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan today, taking control of a southern district from militants.
The attack was part of a big offensive foreign troops have launched in response to the most intense phase of violence by a resurgent Taliban across the south.
The surge in violence comes as a NATO peacekeeping force prepares to take over in the south from a US-led coalition force at the end of the month.
At least 10 Taliban were killed as the coalition troops moved into the Sangin district of the southern province of Helmand today in a an offensive spearheaded by mechanised units and helicopter-borne troops, a force spokesman said.
"The purpose is to act against what we believe to be a massing of Taliban in Sangin," said the spokesman, Major Scott Lundy. Several thousand coalition troops were involved in the operation, he said. One had been wounded.
Sangin is a notorious opium-growing district in Helmand where US, British and Canadian troops, along with Afghan forces, have been battling Taliban since March. Six British troops have been killed there since mid-June.
The Taliban and the drug gangs have operated unmolested in Sangin for years and are putting up fierce resistance to efforts by foreign and government forces to extend their authority.
"The Taliban have had a great deal of influence in Sangin. Now we're moving in and establishing a security presence," Lundy said. "Their influence is greatly diminished."