THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Marines Launch Operation Khanjar in Afghanistan

A convoy from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion travels across Camp Leatherneck, June 28. The battalion left Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan's base of operations to join other Marine forces in the Helmand River Valley. (Photo by Cpl. Aaron Rooks, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.)

A U.S. Marine checks his equipment before joining other Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers as they prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Marines and Afghan forces are partnered for a major operation in Helmand province to transition security respon (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse.)

U.S. Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Marines and Afghan forces are partnered for a major operation in Helmand province to transition security responsibilities to the Afghan forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse.)

U.S. Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers recieve a final briefing about Operation Khanjar before boarding CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Marines and Afghan forces are partnered for a major operation in Helmand province to transition security responsibilitie (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse.)

Republic of Afghanistan-Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, prepare to board a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter here July 2 during the launching of Operation Khanjar. Marines and Afghan soldiers and police launched a major operation in central Helmand Provice today as forces from MEB-Afghanistan and Afghan National Security Forces moved into towns and villages along the Helmand River valley in an effort to secure the local population from the threat of Taliban and other insurgent intimidation and violence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Juan Vara.)

Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, prepare to board a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter here July 2 during the launching of Operation Khanjar. Nearly 4,000 Marines and sailors from Regimental Combat Team 3, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the MEB-Afghanistan Command Element constitute the bulk of the U.S. forces conducting this operation, along with approximately 650 Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Juan Vara.)

Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, board a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter here July 2 during the launching of Operation Khanjar. Similar operations in Helmand and Kandahar provinces have been underway as part of a concerted effort by ISAF to combat the ongoing insurgency, including Operation Panchai Palang (Panther Claw) initiated last week by Task Force Helmand, the U.K.-led force that operates adjacent to MEB-Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Juan Vara.)

Related: Combat Camera: US Marines Launch Operation Khanjar in Afghanistan, Part 2