Land Mine Blast Injures Canadian Soldier In Afghanistan
Posted January 11, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Canadian soldier was injured after stepping on a land mine in southern Afghanistan.
Master Cpl. Jody Mitic, who is based in Petawawa, Ont., is part of the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment.
His hometown was not released.
Mitic was taken to hospital at Kandahar airfield with what was being described as serious but non-life threatening injuries.
He was part of a morning patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, where Canadian soldiers fought a difficult battle with militants last fall.
The patrol was part of a new offensive called Operation Falcon Summit, which seeks to target Taliban leaders and bomb-making areas.
The soldier will soon be home for further treatment and is said to be stable.
“After assessing his condition, it was determined he will be sent to Germany and eventually back to Canada for treatment,” said Capt. Joanne Blais, a spokeswoman for Task Force Afghanistan.
The explosion came as NATO made strides against the militant fighters in a battle in the eastern part of the country.
There are conflicting reports over what occurred – with Taliban spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Hanif calling claims of a major victory in Paktika province a lie.
According to NATO as many as 150 Taliban fighters were killed, although Afghan officials estimated the death toll could be lower – between 50 and 80.
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