The much vaunted Spring offensive has begun in Afghanistan. But instead of waiting around for the enemy to initiate contact, NATO forces struck first.
In its largest offensive yet, thousands of NATO troops moved Tuesday into the mountains of southern Afghanistan where hundreds of hardcore Taliban insurgents hold sway an operation in the world's biggest opium-producing region aimed at winning over a population long supportive of militant fighters.
Comprising 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan troops, Operation Achilles marks the start of NATO's major spring military action, said Col. Tom Collins, spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
In the spirit of never cedeing the initiative to the enemy when you can take it yourself, Operation Achilles consists of "two brigades of troops from U.S., British, Afghan and possibly Dutch and Canadian units"
This operation will focus on the violent northern districts of Helmand province, where the Taliban control the districts of Musa Qala and Washir, and claimed to have captured Nawzad. The British turned over Musa Qala to the Taliban in the fall of 2006 after agreeing to a Waziristan Accord like deal, giving the Taliban a sanctuary in the region.
The Sangin, Kajaki and Grishk districts have also been been the scene of heavy Taliban activity this winter. NATO forces have battled the Taliban in the nearby Kajaki and Sangin districts, and secured the Kajaki Dam after killing 15 Taliban during Operation Kryptonite in mid January....
The Taliban have been massing forces in western and eastern Afghanistan over the winter to prepare for its yearly spring offensive. Last year's offensive resulted in over 3,000 Taliban killed and almost 1,000 civilian deaths. As western Pakistan continues to fall under Taliban control, combat operations will increase as NATO fights its holding action against a rested and revitalized Taliban.
Not to be left out of the action, the Air Force is also involved
A C-130 Hercules airdrop mission dropped 30,000 warning leaflets over the mountainous terrain of southeastern Afghanistan March 6 to deter the insurgent activity of the Taliban.
The warning leaflet airdrop mission was in direct support of Operation Achilles launched March 6 by the International Security Assistance Force to create a secure environment that'll enable the Government of Afghanistan to help the country's people.
The warning leaflets were used in support of a ground task force to communicate with Taliban extremists, warning them not to interfere with Coalition activities.
The enemy reacts
Meanwhile the main Taliban website that posts battlefield updates and other related issues has reportedly been shut down. The www.alemarah.org, or 'Voice if Jihad' website, has gone off the web today which may have been coordinated between NATO commanders and Pakistani officials. The website is thought to have been run out of southwestern Pakistan.
And speaking of Waziristan, the hunt for OBL picks up
Armed with fresh intelligence, the CIA is moving additional man power and equipment into Pakistan in the effort to find Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al Zawahri, U.S. officials tell ABC News.
"Reports that the trail has gone stone cold are not correct," said one U.S. official. "We are very much increasing our efforts there," the official said.
People familiar with the CIA operation say undercover officers with paramilitary training have been ordered into Pakistan and the area across the border with Afghanistan as part of the ramp-up.
Although never publicly acknowledged, Pakistan has permitted CIA teams to secretly operate inside Pakistan.
Pakistan officials say they are aware that CIA teams have increased their presence in northern Waziristan since last September when Pakistan withdrew its troops from the area under a much-criticized "peace deal" with tribal leaders.
Here's hoping Spring is a tough season for the enemy.
