Brit Special Air Service, US Navy SEAL units take out top 50 Taliban commanders

LONDON - British Special Air Service (SAS) men and US Navy SEAL teams have killed up to 50 Taliban commanders in a series of daring raids deep inside southern Afghanistan’s Helmand badlands

Meticulous planning stretching back weeks went into the raids, which struck the first blow against the Taliban.

The joint attacks over the past two weeks have helped the SAS prepare for the biggest battle in Afghanistan yet, when 4,000 British troops will go into action, The Sun reports. he assault, labelled Operation Moshtarak, will involve up to 15,000 troops, including the British troops.

Meanwhile, NATO and Afghan government checkpoints have been set up around the Marjah district in an attempt to stop Taliban fighters from slipping out of the area among the fleeing civilian population.

Thousands of Afghan security forces also are expected to take part in the offensive, which include troops from the Afghan National Army as well as about 100 specialists from Afghanistan’s elite police unit - the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP).

This is the first time that Afghan troops have been engaged with the international force on such a scale and Commanders hope it will help reassure locals in Taliban hotspots that their ordeal s almost over. (ANI)