Afghan military offensive enters 5th day

The massive operation by NATO and Afghan troops in Marjah has entered its fifth day. NATO says the Taliban is using civilians as human shields, and allied forces are now intent on clearing the last pocket of resistance in the western part of the town. Paul Crowe has the story.

NATO forces says most of the objectives the attack force had set itself have been achieved, and the marines and Afghan troops "saw sustained but less frequent insurgent activity" in Marjah on Wednesday, limited mostly to small-scale attacks.

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, take up  positions during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of  Helmand province February 17, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Mathew Ellis, Corporal, US Military, said, "I'm feeling pretty confident that we're going to take the whole city, help out the people here, and I mean, we're doing it pretty good. It's a lot easier that what they been saying it's going to be, but I mean, it's still a long way before it's going to be over."

Related stories