KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- British-led forces supported by Canadian, American and other coalition troops, yesterday launched an offensive to drive the Taliban out of Helmand province. Canada's Leopard tanks have been deployed for action. Operation Achilles will eventually involve 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan soldiers - one of the largest multinational forces fielded in a single operation in Afghanistan, says NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Maj.-Gen. Ton van Loon, commander of the alliance's regional command south, said troops will sweep northern Helmand of Taliban extremists, foreign terrorists and warlords involved in the opium poppy trade. "It signifies the beginning of a planned offensive to bring security to northern Helmand and set the conditions for meaningful development that will fundamentally improve the quality of life for Afghans in the area," van Loon said.
A force of more than 200 soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group is supporting the offensive by setting up a blocking position in the Maywand district just inside the northwestern border of Kandahar province. Kandahar province, where Canada's 2,500 troops operate, is adjacent to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. The Gagetown, N.B.-based soldiers are tasked with preventing Taliban militants from retreating through the region, said Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, the senior Canadian commander. They are also to disrupt bands of local insurgents, including drug lords who control the opium trade.
Grant said he doesn't expect the same type of bloody pitched battles between Canadians and Taliban fighters that occurred last year in the Panjwaii and Zhari districts west of Kandahar city. "I don't expect to see and I hope not to see any fighting by Canadians in the Maywand district," said Grant, who noted the battle group includes a force of 46-tonne Leopard 2 tanks. "If things go well then we won't have to fire a shot in anger. If the Taliban choose to stand and take us on, then they will learn how robust the Canadian force is."
Hours before dawn yesterday, soldiers from H company checked their weapons and gear by the light of a waning moon before climbing into their armoured vehicles to roll toward their objectives. The younger soldiers were pumped, some playfully arguing over what kind of music they would play on the road as crunchy heavy-metal guitar rock crackled over the speakers in their LAV3 light armoured vehicles. "Ready to kick some ass, yes!," whooped one man.
Another soldier, Pte. Kevin Kennedy of St.Lawrence, N.L., could barely contain the rush of adrenaline. "Everyone is really pumped here this morning," Kennedy said. "We came here. We've trained for years and we are finally going to go out and do our job. We are ready to do it."