AFGHANISTAN: Heavy figting continues between British marines and Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan

British Marines attacked a Taliban-held valley in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday (December 5) but pulled back after a ferocious counterattack that triggered air strikes and artillery fire, witnesses said. One Royal Marine was killed and a second wounded during the battle, the UK Helmand Task Force (UKTF) said. Scores of soldiers ran across a bridge over the Helmand River under a full moon shortly before daybreak and began sweeping south through wheat fields in the south of the province, the opium centre of the world's major producer. A Reuters cameraman said the Marines initially faced only sporadic resistance but when they advanced, Taliban fighters launched a ferocious, organised riposte with heavy weapons and tried to outflank the British troops. The fierce resistance illustrated the challenges facing the NATO troops in Afghanistan where they are trying to subdue well-armed Taliban and other militants bolstered by profits from a record opium crop, according to Afghan and foreign officials. Major Andy Plewes, who led the Royal Marines of Zulu Company 45 Commando, on the assault said he considered it a success as they had cleared out areas near the "D.C.", a tiny strip of road and ruined buildings on the eastern side of the Helmand River. "As far as we are concerned, the Royal Marines achieved their objectives today and will reassess their future operations," said Lieutenant Colonel Andy Price, UK forces spokesman in Afghanistan. The 32,000-strong force NATO-led International Security Assistance Force took over command of the war against the Taliban from U.S.-led forces in October and has launched a string of offensives. British casualties have been mounting since ISAF took over command of operations in southern Afghanistan at the end of July. Britain has lost 42 soldiers since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001, the bulk of them this year. BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS

ITN Source | December 9, 2006

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