U.S. and Afghan commanders braced for stiffer Taliban resistance and ramped up the public-relations effort as U.S.-led forces pushed ahead with a major offensive into the southern Afghan town of Marjah. The coalition said at least 15 Afghan civilians have been killed since the operation kicking off the U.S. surge began Saturday, but U.S. commanders said that toll hasn't cost them the ability to win local support. Moving Into Marjah The Campaign in Helmand View Slideshow Bryan Denton for The Wall Street Journal Marines took cover after coming under attack during the Marjah offensive Monday. View Interactive See how British and U.S. troops have waged a campaign against the Taliban. Regional Violence View Interactive Follow events in Afghanistan and Pakistan, day by day. More photos and interactive graphics At a briefing with field commanders Monday, top allied commander U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal stressed the importance of getting the word out that a rocket that killed 12 civilians on Sunday hadn't missed its target, as previously reported, but hit a house from which coalition soldiers were taking fire.[Read more...]