This Backgrounder is the first installment in a series of reports documenting and analyzing the battle for Marjah in Helmand province.

Introduction

Operation Moshtarak (Dari for “Together”) is the first major offensive for U.S., coalition and Afghan forces to employ the new reinforcements ordered by President Obama in December of 2009. The mission is to retake the town of Marjah in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and center of the opium network. Moshtarak is expected to include as many as 15,000 U.S., coalition, and Afghan troops and will likely commence within the coming days.

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