...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province, began on Wednesday night.
The operation was launched about 10:00 pm local time in PD1 of Lashkargah, Alizai said, and he urged residents to evacuate areas under Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
control as the
...KABOOM!...
s and ground operations move forward, warning that the Taliban are "using civilian homes" as fighting positions.
The operation began on Wednesday night after hundreds of Afghan commandos and special forces were deployed to Helmand on Tuesday, according to officials.
Alizai said the Taliban’s designated governor for Helmand was killed in the fight with security forces, but the Taliban denied this claim.
"The Taliban has suffered heavy casualties in the Helmand festivities," he said.
Thursday marks the ninth day of fighting in Lashkargah.
Airstrikes in several parts of Lashkargah were carried out on Wednesday night, according to security forces.
There have been no numbers available since Wednesday night of casualties sustained by government forces or of civilians.
Out of 10 districts in Lashkargah, nine have been captured by the Taliban in the recent fighting. Twelve of the 13 districts in Helmand are controlled by the Taliban. Only Kajaki district remains under government control.
On Wednesday, fighting continued near the police HQ, governor's office, the prison, the National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
(NDS) and other government buildings in PD1 of the city, according to the local officials.
All key government offices are in PD1.
Previously, the residents of Helmand said that houses, shops, and markets have sustained heavy damage during the ongoing festivities.
Thousands of families have been displaced.