U.S. Marine Fires Toward Taliban Position In Helmand Province, Afghanistan

U.S. Marine Fires Toward Taliban Position In Helmand Province, Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) April 30, 2009: U.S. Marine Sgt. loads a 120mm white phosphorus mortar while firing towards a Taliban position on April 30, 2009 in Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

U.S. Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment fired mortars and staged a ground assault on a section of the Taliban front line as part of the major strike.

American air power dropped more than ten tons of explosives on dug-in Taliban fighting positions, according to the military.

The U.S. operation involved Air Force, Marine, Navy and Army aviation and was coordinated as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The military says the civilian population of Now Zad fled in 2007, leaving the city a battleground between U.S. forces and entrenched Taliban fighters. Hardin is from Nashville, Tenn.