It was 2 a.m., dark and freezing cold when the first wave of Marines dropped from the sky on Feb. 13 to begin the largest Afghan offensive since the start of the war. It was the US-led invasion of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, in the mountainous Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.
Serbian-born Reuters photographer Goran Tomasevic, 40, spent 10 days embedded with the First Battalion’s Bravo Company as it slowly advanced into Marjah, a smattering of small homes clustered together in groups — known as compounds — and local markets spread out across the desolate region. His photos capture the Marines, accompanied by a squad of Afghan soliders, doing the grueling work of searching every house and rooting out Taliban snipers. The unit frequently encountered heavy enemy fire — one of Bravo Company’s soldiers was killed by a sniper on the operation’s first day.
“The Marines are at a real disadvantage because they are extremely careful about civilian casualties,” Tomasevic said. “The Taliban fire all the time, but the Marines won’t shoot if they suspect there are villagers around. They are very restrained.”
Tomasevic, who’s been in Afghanistan 10 times covering the war, said the latest push showed signs of progress.
“The Marines have the hardest job; they have to go in first and clear everything out. The Bravo Company covered a lot of ground, and physically it was very hard work. I must say that I congratulate them,” Tomasevic said.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE STORIES BEHIND SOME OF TOMASEVIC’S SHOTS