Obama getting briefed on Afghanistan operation

Washington: A White House spokesman says President Barack Obama is keeping a close watch on combat operations in Afghanistan, getting multiple updates as thousands of US Marines and Afghan soldiers storm a Taliban stronghold.
The attempt to take the Taliban stronghold of Marjah is the largest operation since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama is keeping abreast of the combat through the White House Situation Room. He said the President will also get an update from his national security advisor, General Jim Jones, later in the day.

Vietor said Defence Secretary Robert Gates will also have the top US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, brief Obama on Sunday morning.

Bureau Report