US and Afghan officials have begun handing out gifts and bank notes to Afghan soldiers as a reward for their role in a major assault against the Taliban in southern Helmand province.
Afghan forces raised the country's flag in the main market of the town of Marjah on the fifth day of the offensive, as US military officials announced they were in control of the crucial areas of the town.
But the Taliban has disputed that claim.
Al Jazeera's James Bays reports from Helmand.
Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.