The offensive was intended to secure the area around the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah after an increase in insurgent attacks there ( including a 300-man Taliban assault ) , as well as helping to safeguard Preserving a planned voter registration programme .

After a raid south of Lashkar Gah , £2 million worth of opium was found Know , alongside IEDs and other assorted Cause_to_amalgamate drugs and explosives .

Commandos backed by the 2nd Battalion The Princesses of Wales 's Royal Regiment and the Afghan National Army attacked Attack and captured Arrest the town of Shin Kalay , west of Lashkar Gah .

Lima Company , 42 Commando saw Self_motion the most ferocious close-quarters fighting during the 360-degree battle for Zarghun Kalay , northwest of Lashkar Gah , on 17 December .

The Marines pushed Self_motion into primarily three significant towns along a 75-mile stretch Expansion of the Helmand River valley south of Lashkar Gah .

In central Helmand , 1st Battalion , 5th Marines ( 1/5 ) pushed Self_motion into Nawa-I-Barakzayi to the south of Lashkar Gah , 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion ( 2nd LAR ) entered Arriving Khanashin in the Khan Neshin district .