International and Afghan troops have launched an assault on Taliban fighters in a bid to capture Marjah in the southern Afghan province of Helmand.

Offensives have been launched on Helmand before, but this one is different: it is being led by Afghan forces and is apparently backed up by a plan to hold the area with a viable local government and police force.

As the offensive gets under way, Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Kabul. (12 Feb 10)