Posted on 09/03/2006 9:02:05 AM PDT by Clive
Three Canadian soldiers serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan have been killed and six others wounded during a major offensive that killed scores of Taliban fighters, says an unconfirmed report from an Afghan official. A Canadian soldier calls in an air strike on Saturday, during the first day of Operation Medusa, a mission to retake the volatile Panjwaii area west of Kandahar from Taliban forces. (Canadian Press)
Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi also said on Sunday that the deaths occurred during an air and ground offensive by NATO and Afghan forces in southern Kandahar province, according to Reuters news agency.
Azimi also said as many as 89 militants and some civilians had been reported killed.
The Canadian casualties, which have not been confirmed by the Canadian military or NATO, were reported on the second day of the NATO offensive called Operation Medusa.
Most of the combat units from Canada's 2,200 soldiers in Afghanistan have been fighting alongside Afghan troops as part of the NATO operation, which aims to drive Taliban militants from their strongholds in the Zhari and Panjwaii districts.
At least nine Canadians have died and 38 have been wounded in dozens of bomb attacks, ambushes and pitched battles in the area, about 30 kilometres west of the city of Kandahar.
If Azimi's report is confirmed, it would bring the total number of Canadian deaths to 30 since the mission in Afghanistan began in 2002.
British plane crashes
Hours after Operation Medusa began, a British reconnaissance plane supporting the operation crashed in the Panjwaii district, killing all 14 military personnel on board.
A purported Taliban spokesman claimed militants shot the plane down in Kandahar province with a Stinger missile, but British Defence Secretary Des Browne said the crash appeared to be "a terrible accident."
Col. Fred Lewis, the deputy commander of the Canadian contingent of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), told reporters the Taliban "don't have the technical ability to shoot down an aircraft like that."
Thousands of locals have fled villages in Panjwaii district since May following the arrival of hundreds of Taliban fighters still loyal to leaders who were ousted from power by a U.S.-led coalition of troops in late 2001.
Operation Medusa is the largest offensive since NATO took over the mission in Afghanistan earlier in the summer.
NATO commanders have promised to push forward with a reconstruction plan after the operation is over and leave behind troops to help restore infrastructure.
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I assume they were part of this operation. We thank them for their gallant fighting and mourn their loss.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694828/posts
Actually, the updated number is 200 taliban
Sometimes I think we are killing the wrong enemy!
God bless the Canadian soldiers.
Afghan press reporting 230 dead, 80 captured and 180 on the run.
When I was in the army (Alaska, '69-'71), we had joint training exercises with the Canadians (Northern Warfare Training Center). At the time, it was my understanding that the Canadians had a two year waiting period for enlistment.
yitbos
Canada ping.
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
Am I correct that the Canadians have a Thatcherite running the country?
yitbos
Yes, Stephen Harper.
He reminds me of a young Ronald Reagan actually.
I hope we have an election this fall so he can get a majority.
God bless them. My thoughts and prayers are with them, their families and friends.
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