A handout photograph dated 09 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 showing a US Marine with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, affixing a mortar round to his pack before a helicopter-borne assault to seize the 'Five Points' intersection east of the insurgent stronghold of Marjeh. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF / HO
A handout photograph dated 09 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 showing U.S soldiers with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, one running a wheelbarrow full of gathered cinderblocks back to his gun’s location while a comrade, a radio operator with Weapons Platoon, provides security between firefights with Taliban insurgents at the “Five Points” intersection. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF / HO
A handout photograph dated 09 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 showing US soldiers attached to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, watching nearby farms for insurgent activity from a building rooftop in the center of 'Five Points,' a key intersection of roads linking the northern area of the insurgent stronghold of Marjeh with the rest of Helmand province. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF / HO
A handout photograph dated 09 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 showing Marine with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sprinting down the line of heavy machine guns to deliver a map after a firefight with Taliban insurgents Feb. 9 at the “Fire Points” intersection, a key junction of roads linking the northern area of the insurgent stronghold of Marjeh with the rest of Helmand province. NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF / HANDOUT
A handout photograph dated 05 February 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 shows US Army soldier, with 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, handing a newsletter to an Afghan man in Kashk-e Nokowd, Hutal, Afghanistan. The weekly newsletters tell readers how US and Afghan National Security Forces are helping residents. NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF/HO
A handout photograph dated 16 January 2010 and released by the NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on 11 February 2010 shows Afghan National Army instructor briefing on close quarters combat techniques at the Kabul Military Training Center. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/ISAF/HO
A US military helicopter transport Marines, in volatile Helmand province Afghanistan on 10 February 2010. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. EPA/STR
Afghan police and British soldiers of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stand in attention during a briefing at their military base in Lashkar Gah, in volatile Helmand province Afghanistan on 09 February 2010. Hundreds of families are fleeing the areas as NATO's six nations, 15,000 troops alongside with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, are set to launch major assaults on Taliban strongholds in Helmand. NATO commanders intend to turn the tide this year on the insurgency. EPA/STR
