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Kandahar Offensive in Two Months
 [Quqnoos] The US-led forces in Afghanistan will launch a major operation in Kandahar in June, military officials said. A US military source was quoted by Reuters as saying the goal was to clear the city from Taliban forces before the month of Ramadan begins in August. The Kandahar operation was said as the next step of an ongoing massive operation in the neighbouring Helmand province, targeting key Taliban strongholds in Marjah and Nad Ali districts. The officials - who spoke on condition of anonymity - said some 10,000 troops would be involved in the main thrust of the operation. They told Reuters news agency it would include a militant "clearing" phase from June to August, followed by a smaller "secure and deliver government" phase that is expected to last at least until mid-October. The operation in Kandahar will begin as extra US forces will arrive on the ground. Some 6,000 of the 30,000 additional forces assigned have already arrived. US officials had previously disclosed plans for the operation in Kandahar - the birthplace of the Taliban - but had not said when it might happen. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates also reviewed the planning. Posted by: Fred 2010-03-31 |
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