Two Canadian Troops Injured In Afghanistan, One Seriously
Posted July 8, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The troops were hurt while they were patrolling an area west of Kandahar City where there’ve been a number of clashes with militants over the past few months.
“In response to small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, Canadian and Afghan soldiers returned fire and called in coalition air support,” Canadian Forces spokesman Maj. Mark Theriault said.
The Taliban has been ambushing convoys and attacking Afghan police centres in the region. Canadian Forces have won every battle in the area since May, but as soon as the troops leave insurgents gather again and plan more attacks.
“That is why it is important for us to get back in there,” said Theriault. “We are trying to have an impact on their leadership and their resupply capacity since it seems to be a very important base for them.”
Both of the injured troops were taken to the hospital at the international coalition base in Kandahar and the soldier with serious injuries will be airlifted to an American military hospital in Germany.
That soldier was injured during a firefight while the second, who’s said to be in good condition, was hurt during the air strike. Their names haven’t been released.
Theriault said at least five Taliban fighters were killed during the exchange of gunfire that injured the Canadian troop.
“This was part of a joint Afghan-coalition security operation aimed at removing the Taliban threat to Afghan citizens in the region west of Kandahar City,” he said. “The fighting has been fierce.”
File picture shown.
