Afghan families flee town ahead of new offensive

About 300 families have already fled a southern Afghan town ahead of a major new offensive planned on a key Taliban stronghold, provincial officials said today.

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman vowed that insurgent forces in and near Marjah in southern Helmand province are ready “to do jihad, to sacrifice their lives” in the upcoming battle, which will serve as a significant test of the new US strategy for turning back the Taliban.