Errant Rocket Kills 12 Civilians in Home Near Marjah as Marines Faced Strong Taliban Defense

Sun February 14, 2010 11:39 pm USA21 24/7 ALERTS! Comments Off

Two U.S. military rockets slammed into a home Sunday outside the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah, killing 12 civilians. The rocket used has been suspended during an investigation of the loss of civilian life.

Inside Marjah, Marines faced booby traps, hardcore Taliban fighters and civilians unsure who to support in their second day of a Operation Mushtarak.

U.S. Marines came under intense fire in Marjah after being carried in by helicopters. The battle has been compared to the intensity of Fallujah, Iraq; except in Marjah military units are taking fire from all sides.

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According to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) press release:
A combined force of 15,000 is involved in Operation Moshtarak. This combined force includes:
Approximately five brigades of Afghan forces, including members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Gendarmerie (formerly Afghan National Civil Order Police).
ISAF Regional Command (South) elements, with forces drawn from the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia and Canada. These elements include:
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (US)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines (US)
3rd Battalion, 6th Marines (US)
4th Battalion, 23rd IN Stryker (US)
Combat Engineer Battalion (US)
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Det-) (US)
1 Coldstream Guards Battle Group (UK)
1 Grenadier Guards Battle Group (UK)
1 Royal Welsh Battle Group (UK)
Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (UK)
Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (UK)
Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (France) with the Afghan Kandak 31
Task Force Pegasus (US)
Task Force Kandahar (Canada/US)