4 Canadians killed in battle
PANJWAII, Afghanistan (CP) - Canadian troops launched a ground assault on an insurgent position Sunday and met fierce Taliban resistance that killed four Canadians and injured six others in one of the deadliest battles since Ottawa sent soldiers to Afghanistan in 2002.
Canadian casualties mounted on Monday with news that a soldier was killed and numerous others were wounded when NATO warplanes accidentally strafed them during the same operation south of Kandahar. Most of the injuries were reported to be minor.
On Sunday, the Canadians moved in with light armoured vehicles in the early morning after NATO forces had pounded enemy positions for more than 24 hours with helicopter gunships, artillery and bombs.
Taliban insurgents put up a stiff fight, using small arms and rocket propelled grenades to hit back at the Canadians, who later returned to their own stronghold.
Some soldiers expressed surprise at how stubbornly Taliban fighters had defended their ground, near a river valley that cuts a green ribbon through this desert area west of Kandahar city.
The alliance commanders had given everyone including the enemy a few days of advance notice before starting Operation Medusa in Panjwaii district.
NATO officials maintained the operation was a success, estimating 200 Taliban militants had been killed and 80 captured.
Confrontations continued well into Monday.
In one battle, NATO ground troops requested air support.
"Two ISAF (NATO's International Security Assistance Force) aircraft provided the support but regrettably engaged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons," said a NATO statement.
Officials later confirmed a Canadian was killed and several others were wounded in the accidental attack. No other details, including the exact number of troops wounded and the extent of their injuries, were released.
The deaths of the four Canadians a day earlier was announced by Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser.
"I am saddened to announce that four Canadian soldiers were killed during today's operations, and a number of others were wounded," he told a briefing.
"All but one of the wounded is expected to resume their duties within the next few days."
Two of the dead were identified as Warrant Officer Frank Mellish and Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, both of 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Petawawa.
The names of the other two Canadians killed in the clash had not been released at the request of their families.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered "heartfelt condolences" to the families and friends of those killed, as well as his wishes for "the speedy recovery of the six other soldiers who were injured."
"We are proud of these soldiers' contribution to bring stability and hope to the people of Afghanistan," Harper said in a statement.
Fraser said the Canadian soldiers were moving into a position when they came under insurgent attacks.
". . . during these attacks they succumbed to injuries from the insurgents."
He said the operation will continue, despite the losses.
"ISAF is determined to remove the Taliban threat from this region," Fraser said.
U.S. jets and helicopters bombed and strafed suspected Taliban positions late into Sunday night.
On the frontlines, soldiers felt shock waves from the bombardment as they waited anxiously to learn the identities of the dead Canadians.
"Most likely they're our good buddies too," said Cpl. J.R. Smith from Mount Pearl, N.L.
Several seemed anxious to get back into the battlefield.
"They all know their job, they have a lot of pride in their job, that's why they're here, they know their country is behind them," said Master Cpl. Steve Vukic from Port-au-Choix, N.L.
"We're all one big unit and we have a mission to do."
Some soldiers said they did not expect the strength of the Taliban defence.
"Truthfully, I was surprised by the resistance they put up," said Maj. Geoff Abthorpe, commander of Bravo Company of Task Force Kandahar and a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment.
"We came at them with what I perceived to be a pretty heavy fist." The last time the Canadian Forces suffered as many deaths in one day was Aug. 3 when two roadside bombings and a hail of rocket-propelled grenades killed four Canadians and injured 10. Most of those casualties occurred near the village of Pashmul in the Panjwaii district.
Sunday's casualties will likely raise questions about NATO tactics. Planning for the assault was supposed to be secret until U.S. Col. Steve Williams laid down a public warning to the Taliban in Panjwaii last week that it was time to run or die.
Canadians were also warning civilians in the area to leave, dropping leaflets and meeting with local elders. There were no reports of civilian casualties in the latest clashes, NATO said.
Abthorpe said the warnings were a double-edged sword.
"Of course any time you broadcast plans as openly as we did to an enemy force they will take the opportunity to do something with that time," Abthorpe said.
"Time on the battlefield is one of the most valuable weapons we have. There's no denying it would have given the hardliners a chance to dig in that little bit more. But, if they did, that would have been a perfect opportunity for us to identify them through our intelligence assets and pinpoint them. Again, a double-edged sword."
The marijuana and grape fields along the Arghandab River formed the only green strip for kilometres in a region dominated by desert sand as fine as talcum powder. Soldiers played horseshoes with spent cannon shells as officers prepared to adjust their tactics for another assault.
"We can learn from what went on down there," said Abthorpe. "We can draw on that experience."
Meanwhile, an investigation into Monday's friendly fire incident in underway. It was the second similar incident since Canadians began operations more than four years ago.
Four soldiers died in April 2002 when a U.S. F-16 fighter mistakenly bombed Canadians on pre-dawn training exercise. Eight other Canadians were wounded.
Canada has about 2,200 troops based in southern Afghanistan. Most of the Canadian combat units are participating in Operation Medusa.
Coalition troops have fought several battles to take and retake the Panjwaii area in recent months. Before Sunday's casualties, at least six Canadians died and 32 were wounded in dozens of bomb attacks and ambushes.
In June, Canadian commanders declared they had taken the area in the so-called "Battle of Panjwaii." Within weeks, however, the Taliban were once again operating in the area and Canadians were attacked several times a week.
With the latest deaths, 32 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.
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