Canadian troops launch major offensive in Panjwaii district
Clogeroo @ Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:41 am
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/afgh ... baaz_tsuka
$1:
MAS'UM GHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - Canadian troops and tanks rolled into a small town in the Panjwaii district Wednesday as Canada launched its first major offensive as part of Operation Baaz Tsuka.
Members of Charles Company Combat Team - consisting of two troops of Canadian Leopard tanks, a company of light armoured vehicles, three platoons of infantry, a company of Afghan National Army soldiers as well as artillery and support - left the forward operating base near the village of Bazar-e-Panjwaii early Wednesday as bright sunlight burst over the local mountains. The destination was Howz-e Madad, located just north of the Arghandab River.
"We've been like caged leopards I guess, waiting to get out on the prowl," said Cpl. Steve Hamel, 28, of Canal Flats, B.C. sitting in a long line of armoured vehicles.
"You'd be crazy not to be nervous but everybody's going to fall back on their training so it's all good. You get more of an adrenaline rush," he added.
The goal of the mission is to either kill or force hardline Taliban leaders to leave the Panjwaii-Zahre district, an area that was once the heartland of the Taliban, where Canadian troops have been in bloody skirmishes with them for the past several months.
The Canadian forces entered the town without a shot being fired and immediately took up positions toward the south, near a large irrigation canal.
The area is a logical launching pad for the offensive against the Taliban.
"It's also an area that we haven't been to that much," said Maj. Paul Pickering, 41, of Cambridge, Ont.
"We've been mostly in the Pashmul area and we wanted to go further west, and Howz-e Madad is right on Highway 1 and that's a good stepping point," he said.
The region was not included in the highly successful Canadian-led Operation Medusa that wrapped up in mid-September. It is believed the area around the town has become a key gathering point for the Taliban, said Pickering.
"Intelligence reports say it is and there could be a Taliban strongpoint in Howz-e Madad and south of Howz-e Madad," said Pickering. "There seems to be a lot of Taliban movement in the area - both north and south."
Soldiers were both anxious and excited as they prepared to leave.
"I'm feeling pretty good about this. Everybody's really pumped right now and we really want to do something," said Trooper Matt Dube, 25, of Montreal, a member of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) armoured regiment based in Edmonton.
The Canadian Leopard squadron sat back at Kandahar Airfield for a month before being deployed.
"It's been really, really difficult waiting and we're here to help. Just sitting back there was really atrocious," Dube said.
The amount of firepower on hand was an impressive sight even to Dube.
"We like to see this. We like to see all the tanks together and just roll out in a big metal mass."
It will be the first taste of combat for Dube and many others on this mission.
"It's a weird feeling actually," he said. "I'm a little bit apprehensive but it's our job and we want to do it."
Master Cpl. Angela Townsend, 31, North Sydney, N.S., has seen some action but not in this kind of operation.
"We'll just keep our heads low. We still have to do our jobs. We'll do what we have to do and get out of there as quick as we can," said Townsend with a shrug.
"I'm a little bit nervous but we're with a good bunch of guys. The guys will look after us and we'll look after them," she said.
NATO forces continued attacks in other areas of Panjwaii district on Wednesday.
Afghan and NATO forces reported they were involved in a firefight with close to 100 suspected Taliban members near an enemy compound. NATO said a "large number" of Taliban were killed in the fighting.
Canada, which has been battling the Taliban in the Panjwaii district for months, is joining British, American and Dutch troops in the offensive.
Operation Medusa, the two-week NATO operation that started in early September, led to the deaths of hundreds of Taliban, according to the military.
At the time NATO and Canadian officials said they had driven the Taliban out of the area west of Kandahar city, and had done serious damage to the ability of the insurgents to mount attacks.
However, following Medusa, the Taliban reverted to guerrilla tactics with several suicide bombings and rocket attacks over the past three months.
Five Canadian soldiers died during Medusa, including Pte. Mark Anthony Graham of Hamilton, who was killed in a friendly-fire incident.
Members of Charles Company Combat Team - consisting of two troops of Canadian Leopard tanks, a company of light armoured vehicles, three platoons of infantry, a company of Afghan National Army soldiers as well as artillery and support - left the forward operating base near the village of Bazar-e-Panjwaii early Wednesday as bright sunlight burst over the local mountains. The destination was Howz-e Madad, located just north of the Arghandab River.
"We've been like caged leopards I guess, waiting to get out on the prowl," said Cpl. Steve Hamel, 28, of Canal Flats, B.C. sitting in a long line of armoured vehicles.
"You'd be crazy not to be nervous but everybody's going to fall back on their training so it's all good. You get more of an adrenaline rush," he added.
The goal of the mission is to either kill or force hardline Taliban leaders to leave the Panjwaii-Zahre district, an area that was once the heartland of the Taliban, where Canadian troops have been in bloody skirmishes with them for the past several months.
The Canadian forces entered the town without a shot being fired and immediately took up positions toward the south, near a large irrigation canal.
The area is a logical launching pad for the offensive against the Taliban.
"It's also an area that we haven't been to that much," said Maj. Paul Pickering, 41, of Cambridge, Ont.
"We've been mostly in the Pashmul area and we wanted to go further west, and Howz-e Madad is right on Highway 1 and that's a good stepping point," he said.
The region was not included in the highly successful Canadian-led Operation Medusa that wrapped up in mid-September. It is believed the area around the town has become a key gathering point for the Taliban, said Pickering.
"Intelligence reports say it is and there could be a Taliban strongpoint in Howz-e Madad and south of Howz-e Madad," said Pickering. "There seems to be a lot of Taliban movement in the area - both north and south."
Soldiers were both anxious and excited as they prepared to leave.
"I'm feeling pretty good about this. Everybody's really pumped right now and we really want to do something," said Trooper Matt Dube, 25, of Montreal, a member of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) armoured regiment based in Edmonton.
The Canadian Leopard squadron sat back at Kandahar Airfield for a month before being deployed.
"It's been really, really difficult waiting and we're here to help. Just sitting back there was really atrocious," Dube said.
The amount of firepower on hand was an impressive sight even to Dube.
"We like to see this. We like to see all the tanks together and just roll out in a big metal mass."
It will be the first taste of combat for Dube and many others on this mission.
"It's a weird feeling actually," he said. "I'm a little bit apprehensive but it's our job and we want to do it."
Master Cpl. Angela Townsend, 31, North Sydney, N.S., has seen some action but not in this kind of operation.
"We'll just keep our heads low. We still have to do our jobs. We'll do what we have to do and get out of there as quick as we can," said Townsend with a shrug.
"I'm a little bit nervous but we're with a good bunch of guys. The guys will look after us and we'll look after them," she said.
NATO forces continued attacks in other areas of Panjwaii district on Wednesday.
Afghan and NATO forces reported they were involved in a firefight with close to 100 suspected Taliban members near an enemy compound. NATO said a "large number" of Taliban were killed in the fighting.
Canada, which has been battling the Taliban in the Panjwaii district for months, is joining British, American and Dutch troops in the offensive.
Operation Medusa, the two-week NATO operation that started in early September, led to the deaths of hundreds of Taliban, according to the military.
At the time NATO and Canadian officials said they had driven the Taliban out of the area west of Kandahar city, and had done serious damage to the ability of the insurgents to mount attacks.
However, following Medusa, the Taliban reverted to guerrilla tactics with several suicide bombings and rocket attacks over the past three months.
Five Canadian soldiers died during Medusa, including Pte. Mark Anthony Graham of Hamilton, who was killed in a friendly-fire incident.