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Marja, a town with a population of 80,000, is a Taliban stronghold in Helmand while military analysts are of the view that over 1,000 insurgents including some 100 foreign fighters might be hiding in the town.
The combined force comprises the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, International Security Assistance Force Regional Command (South), and Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Five brigades of Afghan forces, including members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Genarmerie, are involved in the operation.
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Coalition troops in the operation are drawn from the United States, Britain, Denmark, Estonia and Canada, it added.
The offensive is one of NATO's biggest against the Taliban since the war began in 2001. It aims at re-establishing government control over the area which remains a Taliban stronghold.
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Opinion
• Operation on Taliban claims Afghan civilian lives
• Operation on Taliban slows down
• Dutch cabinet collapse makes Afghan mission up in the air
• Ongoing operation on Taliban, a test for US strategy
• Civilian casualties cast shadow on offensive on Afghan Taliban
• Offensive a test for NATO's ability in uprooting Taliban
Related coverage
• London Conference on Afghanistan
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