Army operation progressing "very well"

A military operation to oust Taliban insurgents from a stronghold in southern Afghanistan has entered its third day. The Ministry of Defence said it was progressing "very well".

Hundreds of troops are taking part in Operation Tor Shezada. British forces, working alongside the Afghan army, said they made progress and were holding two compounds near Sayedebad in central Helmand province.

The operation, which translates as "black prince", started with soldiers being dropped from Chinook helicopters under cover of darkness on Friday.

The troops, spearheaded by 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, then moved in to clear compounds and establish patrol bases in the area.

They seized large quantities of IEDs and bomb making equipment as they moved through the area. No casualties have been reported so far and there has been only limited contact with the Taliban.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Quantities of IEDs have been recovered and shuras (meetings) have been held with village chiefs in an attempt to offer reassurance."

The operation is intended to push insurgents further from the population centres cleared as part of Operation Moshtarak earlier this year.

UK troops and Afghan forces from 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, are clearing insurgents from Sayedebad to the south of Nad-e Ali, in parallel to similar operations by the United States Marine Corps in northern Marjah.