Updated on Friday, July 03, 2009, 09:43 IST

Camp Dwyer, July 03: US Marines pushed deeper into Taliban strongholds on Friday after suffering the first fatality of their massive offensive against Afghanistan's hardline Islamist militia.

Ferried in by relays of helicopters yesterday, Marines were on the ground in Helmand province's districts of Garmsir and Nawa, and also helped Afghan forces take Khanishin, towards the border with Pakistan, officers said.

"Today Marines are continuing to move towards those objectives that are still out there and they are going to work to stabilise security in these areas," spokesman First Lieutenant Kurt Stahl said today.

The nearly 4,000 Marines are spearheading US President Barack Obama's aggressive new war plan for Afghanistan's bloody insurgency with an emphasis on protecting the population ahead of Presidential Elections on August 20.

"When Marines go out into towns, they are always looking for opportunities to talk to village elders and explain why they are here," Stahl said.

"The intention is to understand each other, elders can express their concerns and an open flow of communication is secured."

Yesterday troops quickly overran Khanishin district, where the Taliban had set up a proxy government and justice system, within hours of the launch of the Marines' biggest operation since Fallujah in Iraq in November 2004.

Bureau Report