A major military offensive has begun against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. Thousands of American soldiers together with Afghan and other NATO forces are attacking the town of Marjah, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province. <br/><br/>Reports say, soon after midnight, British and US jets took off in the southern Afghan airbase to support the biggest operation against the Taliban. In the small hours of the morning, thousands of NATO and Afghan troops were airlifted by helicopter and dropped in the Nad Ali and Marjah districts with the aim of driving out the Taliban from their last major stronghold in the region. Nearly 15,000 coalition and Afghan troops are taking part in the Operation Moshtarak – meaning "together" in Dari.