Page 46 - Marja News Today

The last taliban stronghold in helmand province. in the last whenever the u.s. marines, u.s. troops come in along with nato forces they come into an area, they tend to flee and come back. this time it seems like theyre here to stay. theyre here to fight. were already hearing the gunfire. were already seeing the engagement. were hearing its the company were with. were hearing it across the city of marja with a different company of marines that are also engaging the enemy. so its only -- were wait...

>> reporter: anderson, we are hearing gunfire. we have -- the enemy is in the city of marja at the moment. they are fighting. the marines, the first italian six marines regiment, thats the main effort in the battle in marja. theyre the first u.s. marine boots on the ground with afghan soldiers. it started 5 1/2 hours ago in the dark hours of night. the sun is out and so is the taliban. they are fighting back and expect a long fight to come. anderson? >> atia, that had been the big question, whet...

They told the u.s. forces they were coming and one of the things that led to is that the taliban has dug in. they dug in a lot of improvised weapons in that area. what the marines were telling us before this operational launch is that they believe the improvised explosive devices on the ground there are going to be their biggest threat. so what you have right now in the town of marja in helman province is an air assault going on and marines and afghan forces advancing on the ground in what is ve...

3,000 u.s. marines are taking part in the operation aimed at marja where taliban fighters control and have controlled for quite some time. atia joins me now. what are you seeing and hearing? >> reporter: anderson, we are hearing gunfire. we have -- the enemy is in the city of marja at the moment. they are fighting. the marines, the first italian six marines, the battle in marja. the first u.s. marine boots on the ground with afghan soldiers. it started 5 1/2 hours ago in the dark hours of night....

Hearing gunfire. we have -- the enemy is in the city of marja at the moment. they are fighting. the marines, the first italian six marines, the battle in marja. the first u.s. marine boots on the ground with afghan soldiers. it started 5 1/2 hours ago in the dark hours of night. the sun is out and so is the taliban. they are fighting back and expect a long fight to come. >> atia, that had been the big question, whether the taliban would stand and fight or dissolve and come back to fight guerilla...

In a bomb strike, the other from small arms fire. so far, we do not know their nationalities. thousands of nato and afghan forces have been storming the taliban stronghold of marja trying to break the militants hold on the area. this is the biggest joint operation since the war began. and tragedy struck the university of alabama at huntsville. three biology professors are dead. three other university employees injured and their co-worker is in custody. police say 42-year-old amy bishop opened fi...

Fred? >> hi, larry. for the first time now, nato and u.s. forces here in afghanistan have actually confirmed that this operation is now under way. i was on the phone with them just a couple of minutes ago, asking them for an operational update. they said so far they have no information as to any casualties on the u.s. side. however, larry, what we do know is that a couple hours ago under the cover of darkness, u.s. marines, british forces and afghan forces began an air assault on the town of mar...

Does it seem like the taliban is, in fact, staying to fight? >> reporter: absolutely. absolutely. the last taliban strong hold in helmand province. in the last whenever the u.s. marines, along with nato forces come into an area they tend to flee and come back. this time it seems like theyre here to stay. theyre here to fight. were already hearing the gunfire. were already seeing the engagement. were hearing it across the city of marja with a different company of marines that are also engaging th...

>> larry: weve got some breaking news for you, an update on the nato offensive that gn a short time ago in afghanistan, a big offensive of the war targeting the taliban. fred with the latest from kabul. fred? >> hi, larry. for the first time now, nato and u.s. forces here in afghanistan have actually confirmed that this operation is now under way. i was on the phone with them just a couple of minutes ago, asking them for an operational update. they said so far they have no information as to any ...

Recalling toyota tacomas for a safety defect from 2008 to 2010. now lets take you back to "hardball." welcome back to "hardball." pentagon officials say u.s. and afghan forces have launched a major offensive again the talibans strong hold of marjaw. more on the front. mick, thanks. whats going on today in afghanistan? >> reporter: you know, chris, this is the largest military operation launched against the taliban in the entire afghanistan war. 25,000 to 30,000 u.s., nato and afghan forces are...