Taliban launch operation ‘Iron Net’ against US Marines

[Naveed Yaseen]

KANDAHAR: The Taliban said on Monday they have launched a guerrilla operation to thwart a major assault by the newly-deployed US Marines on their Helmand strongholds.

Operation Foladi Jal would teach the Marines “a lesson”. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP by telephone from an unknown location.

About 4,000 Marines poured into the southern province on Thursday in an operation called Khanjar (dagger) to tackle the Taliban in the region.

“In response to Operation Khanjar by the invading forces, we have launched the operation,” Ahmadi said. The operation would include improvised bomb explosions and “hit-and-run guerrilla attacks”, Ahmadi said.

“We will not engage them in front battles. We would rather hit them by mines and guerrilla attacks,” he said. afp

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg7_7