Two Canadian soldiers have been seriously injured in one of the biggest battles since coalition troops arrived in Afghanistan, involving hundreds of Taliban militants. The battle took place near a village in the desolate Panjwai region west of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The troops, who have not been named publicly, are in serious condition after having surgery at a hospital at the main Canadian military base in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, Canadian Forces Lt. Mark MacIntyre said on Monday.
The soldiers had been taking part in one of the largest gunbattles since international troops arrived in Afghanistan in 2002, said CBC correspondent David Common, who is in Kandahar. The operation, which was taking place in the Panjwai region west of Kandahar, started Sunday night after coalition forces learned that up to 800 Taliban fighters were gathering in a village.
There to watch the FIFA World Cup, no doubt.
Infantry, armour and artillery from the Edmonton-based Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were involved. Reports from the battle suggest members of the Taliban hid behind the village's mud walls and trenches to attack troops.
In separate battles around the country on Monday, about three dozen Taliban fighters were killed by Afghan and coalition troops, said Afghan officials. One of those killed was reportedly Mullah Amanullah, the brother-in-law of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. He reportedly died while fighting in a village in southern Uruzgan province.
[Lt. Mark MacIntyre] said Canadian forces are increasingly moving into known Taliban strongholds. On Saturday, soldiers opened up Forward Operating Base Martello, a new base 200 kilometres north of Kandahar. "We are going into the backyard of the Taliban," he said. Some of these regions haven't seen a coalition presence in years, said MacIntyre.
The Panjwai region where the Canadians were fighting has been the scene of a number of intense battles with the Taliban, including the firefight that took the life of Capt. Nichola Goddard on May 17. Sixteen Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died since the mission started. MPs recently voted to extend Canada's mission in the country by two years until 2009. 
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