(CNN) -- U.S. forces faced off against Afghan insurgents in a standoff Monday that caught women and children between the armed groups, a U.S. military official told CNN.

The Marines' restrained approach differs from previous hits on compounds when airstrikes were readily called in, the official said.

The standoff in the town of Khan Neshin is especially significant because the U.S. military earlier reported that the Afghan government regained control of the town Monday, which was a Taliban stronghold for several years.

Coalition forces began talks with local leaders several days ago, and have moved about 500 Marines into Khan Neshin, a U.S. military news release said. With the government takeover of Khan Neshin, it is the first time coalition forces have a sustained presence so far south in the Helmand River valley, the release said.

The mission to secure Khan Neshin coincides with "establishing secure conditions" for August elections in Afghanistan, according to the release.

As per usual the insurgents fired on the marines and then withdrew to a compound with several buildings. The marines surrounded the place and through an intepreter called on the insurgents to let any women and chldren in the compound go. They let some out and after further negotiations more followed. Now it remains to be seen if the marines and the insurgents can come to some kind of agreement  to end this skirmish without more bloodshed.  

I'd have the interpreter tell 'em that drone up there has 4 hours of fuel left and there'll be another on station before it has to go back to base. They can hang around for weeks, long after your water and food is gone. If you so much as tippietoe four feet outside the compound, day or night, one of those things can plant a hellfire missile within a yard of you and blow you to bits. That's a pretty fultile way to make your point and I can't imagine Allah wants you to die in vain. So drop your weapons, come on out and let's talk. 

It ain't much, but it's a start.