UK forces squeeze Taliban in Helmand operation

Operation Tor Shezada, a drive to squeeze insurgents out of central Helmand province, began yesterday morning after soldiers were dropped into Sayedebad under cover of darkness.

The operation is intended to push insurgent fighters further from the population centres cleared as part of Operation Mostarak earlier this year.

UK troops, led by 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, are partnering Afghan forces to clear insurgents from Sayedebad, to the south of Nad-e Ali, in parallel with similar operations by the US Marine Corps in northern Marjah, the Ministry of Defence said.

The operation, significantly smaller than previous operations in the area, was "launched successfully" and is progressing to plan, Task Force Helmand spokesman Lt Col James Carr-Smith.

The soldiers from 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, 21 Engineer Regiment, the Combined IED task force, 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) and members of the Afghan National Army were dropped by Chinook helicopters.

They landed close to the town and moved in to clear compounds and establish patrol bases in the area. The troops were unopposed as they took their initial objectives and moved supplies into the compound as dawn was breaking.

Once established, the troops reinforced their positions and Royal Engineers were brought in to clear trees and scrubland around the compounds to enhance the field of vision.

The commander of 13 Platoon, Capt Brad Pino, said: "In the early hours we left Bastion by Chinook and dropped into Sayedebad.

"We seized and are now holding two compounds, and we're waiting for the rest of the battlegroup now.

"From lift to landing was probably about 45 minutes. It was actually quite quick. We didn't have any problems and the guys got in there quite quickly so it was a good job."

Moshtarak, involving 15,000 Nato and Afghan troops, was the largest attempt to flush out Taliban fighters since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001. Nearly a third of those involved were British personnel.

Hundreds of British troops are being deployed in Operation Tor Shezada, which translates from Pashto as "black prince".

Lt Col Carr-Smith said: "Operation Tor Shezada will continue the momentum generated by Operation Moshtarak earlier this year. Its aims are very much supported by local Afghans living in and around the area. They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."

US pleads for halt to military leaks

The US government has urged website Wikileaks not to post any more classified documents about the Afghanistan war, saying national security was at risk.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the leak of 90,000 secret military documents has already jeopardised the lives of Afghans working with the US and its allies.

Mr Gibbs said the release of another 15,000 documents would do more damage.

The plea came on the day that three more US troops died, bringing the July death toll to at least 66.