NATO Launches Offensive
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – NATO-led troops launched an offensive against Taliban militants Tuesday in southern Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand province, the alliance said in a statement.
The operation, involving about 5,500 NATO and Afghan troops, was launched at the request of the Afghan government and will focus on northern Helmand, the statement said.
This is NATO’s largest operation in the country so far and will target Taliban militants and drug traffickers, the statement said.
“Though Operation Achilles will initially focus on improving security conditions, its overarching purpose is to assist the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (to) improve its ability to begin reconstruction and economic development in the area,” NATO said.
The government lost control over parts of northern Helmand, including Musa Qala district, where Taliban militants took over on Feb. 1.
Helmand is the world’s biggest producer of opium, and a new U.N. drug assessment indicates that this year’s poppy harvest may be higher than last year’s record output.
