For those of you who are somehow unaware, US/UK/Afghan forces are preparing to take back the town of Marja in Helmand province from the Taliban. It is a large population center that serves as not only the last bastion of Taliban in Helmand but also as a nexus for the opium-trade. 80,000 are thought to reside in the town with as many as another 40,000 in the surrounding areas.
NATO took some criticism for disregarding the element of surprise to announce their intentions, but it was the right thing to do. Tens of thousands of Afghans are leaving the area for safer shelter.
Per the Guardian;
The evacuation of most civilians from the town of Marjah and surrounding areas will give commanders greater leeway to use mortars-and-air-to ground missiles which have enraged Afghans in the past when responsible for civilian deaths.
Estimates on the number of Taliban in the area range from hundreds to thousands. It's likely many will try to put up a fight; the "big T" hardcore true-believers think God is on their side. It's hoped that many of the "little t" economically-motivated Taliban will abandon the region to reduce the amount of fighting necessary. It's also hoped that as many civilians as possible will leave so that as few as possible will be caught in the cross-fire. However, not all of the civilians will leave; some will almost surely be caught in the cross-fire, just as surely as some NATO and allied forces will perish. The Taliban who remain, though? They are facing odds that might as well be impossible to overcome. They could end up out-numbered 10 to 1.
The "shaping phase" of Operation Mastarak is already underway around Marja. As many as 5,000-10,000 US and UK forces could participate along with thousands of Afghan soldiers and police. Despite technological and numerical advantages, the Taliban that choose to remain will be dug-in for a fight and will have dug plenty of explosives into the area. It won't be pretty.