- MARJAH, Afghanistan: Military officials say squads of Marines and Afghan soldiers have infiltrated “a majority” of the Taleban stronghold of Marjah, but gunfire has continued as pockets of militants dig in and fight.
The second day of the largest offensive since the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan was characterized by painstaking house searches and sporadic fighting.
The troops cleared out booby-trapped houses one by one, advancing slowly down streets littered with thousands of homemade bombs and mines. Shots continued to ring out in some neighborhoods Sunday.
Lt. Josh Diddams, a Marine spokesman, said: “We're in the majority of the city at this point.” He also said the nature of the resistance has changed from the initial assault, with insurgents holding ground in some neighborhoods.