US troops started a major offensive in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday night. Around 4,000 marines are to drive the Islamist Taliban from their stronghold in Helmand in an effort to stabilise the troubled province before the Afghan presidential elections on August 20. More than 600 members of the Afghan security forces are also involved in the operation.
With articles from the following publications: The Irish Times - Ireland, Rzeczpospolita - Poland, Die Welt - Germany, La Repubblica - Italy
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