NAWA, Afghanistan (AP) -- U.S. Marines suffered their first casualties of a massive new military campaign Thursday as they engaged in sporadic gunbattles along 55 miles of Taliban-controlled heartland in southern Afghanistan. One Marine was killed and several others were injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001. The offensive was launched shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday local time in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold in the southern part of the country. The goal is to clear insurgents from the hotly contested Helmand River Valley before the nation's Aug. 20 presidential election. Dubbed Operation Khanjar, or "Strike of the Sword," the military push was described by officials as the largest and fastest-moving of the war's new phase. British forces last week led similar missions to fight and clear out insurgents in Helmand and neighboring Kandahar provinces. (21 images)
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A U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. takes up a fighting position after off loading from a helicopter during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. The marines are part of an operation to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route. The marines also plan to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade make preparations as they wait for helicopter transport as part of Operation Khanjar at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on July 2. Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword), involving nearly 4,000 U.S. forces as well as 650 Afghan police and soldiers, would bring security to the Helmand River valley ahead of presidential elections on August 20, commanders aid. AFP / Getty Images / Manpreet Romana
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines board helicopters at Camp Leatherneck for a night air assault in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. are flown in by helicopter during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. run off the back of a helicopter during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. prepare to search a building during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. take up defensive position as more are flown in by helicopter during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
A U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. yells to his fellow Marines as they take enemy fire during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. look to return fire during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
A U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. is surrounded by spent rounds as they engage the enemy during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. take a new position as they take enemy fire during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
A U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. keeps an eye out to where enemy fire is coming from during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. run to a new position as they take enemy fire during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan.Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines guards a road after landing by helicopter in an overnight air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
U.S Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines climb on to a rooftop of a house after arriving in an an overnight night air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines move in formation through farm fields after landing by helicopter in an overnight night air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
A U.S. Marine from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines takes cover in a farm fields after landing by helicopter in an overnight night air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
Afghan soliders and U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. patrol together during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. T Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. listen as their Captain Eric Meador gives a pep talk before loading up on helicopters during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Joe Raedle
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade wait for helicopter transport as part of Operation Khanjar at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on July 2. U.S. Marines launched a major offensive into the Taliban heartlands of southern Afghanistan before dawn as President Barack Obama's new war plan swung into action. AFP / Getty Images / Manpreet Romana
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines wait at Camp Leatherneck to board helicopters for a night air assault in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2. AP / David Guttenfelder
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