By Jillian Farrel -- February 15, 2010
In the Southern Afghan community of Marjah, Afghanistan, U.S. marines, NATO soldiers, and Afghan Army soldiers are trying to push Taliban fighters out of the area.
Sniper teams attacked U.S. Marines and Afghan troops across Marjah on Monday. Several fights concerning American and Afghan forces against the Taliban have resulted in relentless gunfire.
Marines have admitted the difficulty of fighting back Snipers because
of new rules of engagements concerning combat. Under the rules, troops
cannot fire at people unless they have shown a hostile intent.
According to U.S. troops, Snipers are using the rules of engagement against them.
Marjah is the largest Taliban stronghold and a key opium trafficking hub.
Some insurgents had already fled the area in preparation for the offensive. The enemy "had ample time to flee. Our intention was known to the public and to the enemy, " said Interior Minister Hanif Atmar.
Soldiers are not the only ones impacted. On Sunday, two rockets slammed into a home outside Marjah, which killed 12 civilians. NATO said the rockets missed their target by about 600 yards. This off-target strike could cause a serious setback in local community support.
Hamid Karzai, Afghan President, pleaded with NATO and Afghan forces to be cautious about civilian casualties, so he has called for a thorough investigation into the airstrike.
General Stanley McChrystal recently apologized "for this tragic loss of life," and halted the use of the rocket system until a review is complete.
