In efforts to facilitate all Afghans participating the approaching presidential and provincial councils' election, Afghan army and U.S. forces on Thursday kicked off the much awaited offensive against Taliban fighters in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, a press release of Afghan Defense Ministry said.

Dubbed Attal 41 (Hero 41), the multi-pronged offensive, according to the press release, was launched early Thursday morning in the districts where Taliban have holed up with pro-active involvement of Afghan army, police and U.S. Marines.

"The main objectives of this operation is to regain the control of districts from Taliban, restore central governance there and ensure the participation of the people to the electoral process," the press release emphasized.

Defense Ministry without going into details and possible casualties stressed that the troops would continue to strengthen government control and stabilize security ahead of the election.

Earlier, Helmand's provincial administration's spokesman Daud Ahmadi said over 600 Afghan security forces and 4,000 U.S. Marines are involved to root out militants.

Furthermore, commander of Afghan 205 Attal Corps in the region General Shir Mohammad Zazi told Xinhua that attacks on militants' positions had begun from several directions.

"Involving thousands of troops and airpower, the operation was launched from several directions at 1:00 a.m. with objective to evict Taliban from their hideouts and extend government control," commander of 205 Corps in south Afghanistan General Shir Mohammad Zazi told Xinhua.

This operation covers Baba Jee and Spin Masjid areas in the north of provincial capital Lashkar Gah and the two districts of Disho and Khanshin where government does not exist.

Meantime, two British soldiers, according to British Defense Ministry's statement Thursday, were killed in Helmand province where more than 8,000 British troops have been deployed under NATO command to stabilize security there.

Notorious as the hotbed of Taliban fighters and poppy den, Helmand has been the scene of increasing militancy and source of instability over the past years as five out of the 10 districts are said to be held by Taliban.

However, Taliban fighters who vowed to speed up activities this year in Afghanistan have yet to make comment over the newly launched operation in their stronghold.

This is one of the ever-biggest military operations in Afghanistan since toppling Taliban militants from power in late 2001.

Washington, in line with new strategy to boost security in Afghanistan, has announced to deploy additional 21,000 troops into the post-Taliban central Asian state, bringing the number of U.S. military strength to some 68,000.

Source: Xinhua