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The usual disclaimer:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070811.winjured0811/BNStory/International/home
Canadian soldiers injured by roadside bomb
ALEX DOBROTA
Globe and Mail Update
August 11, 2007 at 9:45 PM EDT
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — Five Canadian soldiers suffered minor injuries early Sunday, when their armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb and was ambushed on a secondary road linking Kanadahar City to a major Canadian forward operating base.
The soldiers were riding an RG-31 Nyala in a combat supply convoy that had recently left Masum Ghar base in Panjwai district and was headed back to Kandahar Airfield.
Around 1:20 a.m., a roadside bomb struck the Nyala about 13 kilometres west Kandahar City. Moments later, Taliban insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades at the convoy, said Lieutenant Commander Hubert Genest, a spokesman with the Canadian Forces in Kandahar.
The injured soldiers were taken by road to Masum Ghar and were to be evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar base. Four of them had recently arrived in Kandahar, likely from Quebec, to relieve troops with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry on a six-month rotation
They are all expected to survive, Lt.-Comm. Genest said.
A total of 37 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in bombings since the beginning of the Afghan mission, including suicide attacks.
As part of the latest string of Canadian casualties, six soldiers died last month in the Panjwai district, when an explosion engulfed their RG-31 Nyala, a vehicle designed to withstand the blasts of mines and roadside bombs.
Improvised explosive devices are often made with old Soviet anti-tank mines, concealed under roads and activated by pressure plates or remote control. They are responsible for 18 of the 22 Canadian deaths in Afghanistan over the past six months.
edit to add:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=4ec6d854-7969-435f-a7f6-c860c91837f4
Five Canadian soldiers injured in Afghanistan
Andrew Mayeda
CanWest News Service
Saturday, August 11, 2007
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Five Canadian soldiers were injured early Sunday after their supply convoy was ambushed by Taliban insurgents.
The soldiers were travelling in an RG-31 Nyala armoured vehicle as part of a convoy that was supplying a Canadian forward operating base in Masum Ghar, southwest of Kandahar City.
On their way back from Masum Ghar, the vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device planted along the road. The convoy then came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades.
None of the soldiers was critically injured in the blast. They were evacuated to Kandahar Airfield, NATO's military base in southern Afghanistan, for treatment. In line with military policy, their names were not released.
All but one of the soldiers were part of the battle group led by Quebec's Royal 22nd Regiment, commonly known as the Van Doos. However, it was not immediately clear if the soldiers are based in Quebec.
Military officials would not say whether the IED was remotely detonated or "pressure plated." The military is still investigating the nature of the bomb.
The attack came only hours after a top Canadian military commander touted the progress Canada has made in securing the province against insurgents.
"The security situation has improved immensely over the last year," Lt.-Col. Rob Walker said Saturday as his regiment handed over command of Canada's battle group to the Van Doos.
Walker said traffic along the roads around Kandahar City had increased and commerce had picked up.
"The bad news for the Taliban is they have been defeated time and time again on the battlefield. They are having less and less influence on the population of Kandahar province."
The area just west of Kandahar City, along Highway 1, has been a trouble spot for Canadians. A number of Canadian soldiers have died along that stretch of the highway, at one point earning it the nickname "Ambush Alley." Sunday's attack took place near that area, at the junction of a small side road and Highway 1.
Military officials now frown on any reference to "Ambush Alley," saying security along the road has significantly improved in recent months. But the attack suggests the nickname might still apply.
Edit to add:
"Four of the five are reservists, including one from Montreal's Royal Canadian Hussard, two from the Royal 22nd Regiment in Laval and one from the Canadian Hussars in Moncton, N.B.
The fifth is from CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City.
Four of the five are expected to continue serving, while the fifth will return to Canada having nearly completed his six-month spell."
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/245620
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070811.winjured0811/BNStory/International/home
Canadian soldiers injured by roadside bomb
ALEX DOBROTA
Globe and Mail Update
August 11, 2007 at 9:45 PM EDT
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — Five Canadian soldiers suffered minor injuries early Sunday, when their armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb and was ambushed on a secondary road linking Kanadahar City to a major Canadian forward operating base.
The soldiers were riding an RG-31 Nyala in a combat supply convoy that had recently left Masum Ghar base in Panjwai district and was headed back to Kandahar Airfield.
Around 1:20 a.m., a roadside bomb struck the Nyala about 13 kilometres west Kandahar City. Moments later, Taliban insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades at the convoy, said Lieutenant Commander Hubert Genest, a spokesman with the Canadian Forces in Kandahar.
The injured soldiers were taken by road to Masum Ghar and were to be evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar base. Four of them had recently arrived in Kandahar, likely from Quebec, to relieve troops with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry on a six-month rotation
They are all expected to survive, Lt.-Comm. Genest said.
A total of 37 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in bombings since the beginning of the Afghan mission, including suicide attacks.
As part of the latest string of Canadian casualties, six soldiers died last month in the Panjwai district, when an explosion engulfed their RG-31 Nyala, a vehicle designed to withstand the blasts of mines and roadside bombs.
Improvised explosive devices are often made with old Soviet anti-tank mines, concealed under roads and activated by pressure plates or remote control. They are responsible for 18 of the 22 Canadian deaths in Afghanistan over the past six months.
edit to add:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=4ec6d854-7969-435f-a7f6-c860c91837f4
Five Canadian soldiers injured in Afghanistan
Andrew Mayeda
CanWest News Service
Saturday, August 11, 2007
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Five Canadian soldiers were injured early Sunday after their supply convoy was ambushed by Taliban insurgents.
The soldiers were travelling in an RG-31 Nyala armoured vehicle as part of a convoy that was supplying a Canadian forward operating base in Masum Ghar, southwest of Kandahar City.
On their way back from Masum Ghar, the vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device planted along the road. The convoy then came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades.
None of the soldiers was critically injured in the blast. They were evacuated to Kandahar Airfield, NATO's military base in southern Afghanistan, for treatment. In line with military policy, their names were not released.
All but one of the soldiers were part of the battle group led by Quebec's Royal 22nd Regiment, commonly known as the Van Doos. However, it was not immediately clear if the soldiers are based in Quebec.
Military officials would not say whether the IED was remotely detonated or "pressure plated." The military is still investigating the nature of the bomb.
The attack came only hours after a top Canadian military commander touted the progress Canada has made in securing the province against insurgents.
"The security situation has improved immensely over the last year," Lt.-Col. Rob Walker said Saturday as his regiment handed over command of Canada's battle group to the Van Doos.
Walker said traffic along the roads around Kandahar City had increased and commerce had picked up.
"The bad news for the Taliban is they have been defeated time and time again on the battlefield. They are having less and less influence on the population of Kandahar province."
The area just west of Kandahar City, along Highway 1, has been a trouble spot for Canadians. A number of Canadian soldiers have died along that stretch of the highway, at one point earning it the nickname "Ambush Alley." Sunday's attack took place near that area, at the junction of a small side road and Highway 1.
Military officials now frown on any reference to "Ambush Alley," saying security along the road has significantly improved in recent months. But the attack suggests the nickname might still apply.
Edit to add:
"Four of the five are reservists, including one from Montreal's Royal Canadian Hussard, two from the Royal 22nd Regiment in Laval and one from the Canadian Hussars in Moncton, N.B.
The fifth is from CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City.
Four of the five are expected to continue serving, while the fifth will return to Canada having nearly completed his six-month spell."
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/245620
