The office of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the US will send an additional 1,400 marines to Afghanistan, mostly to southern regions, in anticipation of an increase in fighting with improved weather conditions.

The US-led coalition in Afghanistan is under pressure to show security gains before White House-mandated troop reductions begin in July.

Photo’s and video footage of the M1A1 and the M1A2 in action. Segment shows tanks moving at a good pace at the end.

M1 Abrams tanks, which will be fielded by the Marines in the country’s southwest, will be deployed in Afghanistan for the first time, and will allow ground forces to target insurgents from a greater distance.

The M1 Abrams tank is armed with the most lethal force of any U.S. military ground vehicle. The 68-ton tanks are propelled by a jet engine and equipped with a 120mm main gun that can destroy a house more than a mile away.

The M1 Abrams tanks will be used initially in parts of northern Helmand province, where Marines have been engaged in intense close combat against resilient Taliban cells. The initial deployment is about 16 tanks, but the the number might be expanded.

The Taliban are usually armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and homemade bombs.

Analysis of M1A2 Abrams US tank: Sprinter: 1500 horsepower, 500 rounds/minute, and more …

An insurgent rocket sparked a huge blaze on Monday inside a US base in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, NATO and Afghan officials said. The incident occurred at Camp Wright near the provincial capital of Asadabad, destroying nine armoured vehicles, a Howitzer gun, and a water buffalo.

Forward Operating Base Wright in Asadabad, which has long been known as a hub of intelligence gathering in Kunar and a base of operations for the CIA and U.S. Special Operations Forces in the province, was attacked by Taliban Monday morning with an Rocket-Propelled Grenade. Asadabad is a mountainous region about five miles from the Pakistani border,

The RPG struck a fuel reservoir and caused a massive fire, but did not injure any coalition forces. The fire destroyed one water buffalo, nine mine resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) and a 155mm gun.

Wikipedia Asadabad, Afghanistan

Two U.S. military rockets slammed into a home Sunday outside the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah, killing 12 civilians. The rocket used has been suspended during an investigation of the loss of civilian life.

Inside Marjah, Marines faced booby traps, hardcore Taliban fighters and civilians unsure who to support in their second day of a Operation Mushtarak.

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A Pakistan state television report stated Hakimullah Mehsud had been injured in a drone attack in the Shaktoi area January 14 and died three days later. His burial was reported in the village of Mamuzai in the North Waziristan region.

The Pakistani Taliban on Sunday denied rumors that their chief Hakimullah Mehsud is dead.

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MON JAN 18 2010 KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Taliban militant insurgents attacked the presidential palace, several ministries and the Serena Hotel — host of many foreigners and visiting politicians. The attack began with gunfire about 10:00 a.m. Monday in downtown Kabul. At least five explosions heard.

Afghan security forces (about 200 members) responded to combat the insurgents — two policemen killed, 10 Afghan National Army soldier injured, and 18 Afghan National police were injured.

Taliban claims 20 fighters assaulted the city, and the Afghan government claims at least 10 insurgents were killed.

Wikipedia: Kabul | Afghan National Police | Afghan Ministry of Interior | Afghan National Army | Taliban

SOURCE: ABC News Taliban Strikes in the Heart of Kabul