Islamabad – A Pakistani government official has confirmed to Fox News that the military ground operation has started and the military has also confirmed that mass numbers of Pakistan soldiers have crossed into the South Waziristan agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) for Operation Path of Salvation.

Air strikes and artillery barrages continue to soften militant targets today.  Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is expected to hold a nationally televised address tonight on the operation.

The much talked about and much anticipated offensive is designed to take the fight directly to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistan Taliban movement’s HQ in South Waziristan.  Its new leader Haqimullah Mehsud launched a guerrilla campaign of attacks over the last 12 days that have killed over 175 Pakistan civilians, security forces and law enforcement officers.

A meeting of high-ranking military and political leaders last night here in Islamabad gave the military the green light to launch what has been called here ‘The Mother of All Battles” in South Waziristan.

It’s expected to be a hard battle for the Pakistan military as three attempts to take on the Taliban and al Qaida in the remote area failed, ending in peace agreements. Also, since FATA is semi-autonomous, the government and military have never had a full-time and continuous presence in South Waziristan. The government saying there is zero possibility of an agreement this time.

The United Nations and aid agencies are bracing for more fleeing civilians as the battle draws near.  More than 100,000 civilians have already left the area.