A Canadian soldier was killed early Wednesday when Taliban insurgents attacked a coalition outpost in a remote area outside Kandahar, Afghanistan.
An American soldier and three more Canadian soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Pte. Robert Costall was killed in a battle which took place in Helmand province about 110 kilometres northwest of Kandahar, Canadian Forces Brig.-Gen. David Fraser confirmed early Wednesday.
Fraser said Costall died "defending his fellow soldiers and we will not forget his sacrifice."
Born in Thunder Bay, Ont., Costall was with the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton. He was believed to be 22.
The Canadians, along with U.S. helicopters and British planes, had been repositioned to a base in the area in response to an incident on Tuesday in which eight Afghan army soldiers were killed. The region is a flashpoint for insurgent activity and the illegal drug trade.
Fraser said Taliban insurgents attacked the base with mortars, grenades and small arms fire early Wednesday.
The firefight lasted for several hours, he said, adding that a "significant number" of Taliban members were killed during the battle. U.S. military reports say as many as 32 insurgents died.
An Afghan National Army soldier was also wounded.
The three Canadians injured were in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries, he added. The Department of Defence said it wouldn't release their identities because they are expected to return to duty.
"They're doing well and receiving good treatment," said Fraser, who commands a multinational force in Kandahar, including about 2,300 Canadian troops.
The injured soldiers were taken to a coalition medical facility in Kandahar for treatment.
The region is key to the Taliban's communication lines, said coalition spokesperson Col. Chris Vernon. Insurgents have been carrying out nightly attacks against the base for the past month, he said.
"It's a pretty thorny area," he said.
About 2,000 British troops are due to move into the region in the next couple of months.
Twelve Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002 – 11 soldiers and one diplomat.
Earlier this month, Cpl. Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S., and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta., were killed when their light armoured vehicle smashed into a taxi and flipped during a routine patrol near Kandahar.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/28/kandahar060328.html
An American soldier and three more Canadian soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Pte. Robert Costall was killed in a battle which took place in Helmand province about 110 kilometres northwest of Kandahar, Canadian Forces Brig.-Gen. David Fraser confirmed early Wednesday.
Fraser said Costall died "defending his fellow soldiers and we will not forget his sacrifice."
Born in Thunder Bay, Ont., Costall was with the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton. He was believed to be 22.
The Canadians, along with U.S. helicopters and British planes, had been repositioned to a base in the area in response to an incident on Tuesday in which eight Afghan army soldiers were killed. The region is a flashpoint for insurgent activity and the illegal drug trade.
Fraser said Taliban insurgents attacked the base with mortars, grenades and small arms fire early Wednesday.
The firefight lasted for several hours, he said, adding that a "significant number" of Taliban members were killed during the battle. U.S. military reports say as many as 32 insurgents died.
An Afghan National Army soldier was also wounded.
The three Canadians injured were in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries, he added. The Department of Defence said it wouldn't release their identities because they are expected to return to duty.
"They're doing well and receiving good treatment," said Fraser, who commands a multinational force in Kandahar, including about 2,300 Canadian troops.
The injured soldiers were taken to a coalition medical facility in Kandahar for treatment.
The region is key to the Taliban's communication lines, said coalition spokesperson Col. Chris Vernon. Insurgents have been carrying out nightly attacks against the base for the past month, he said.
"It's a pretty thorny area," he said.
About 2,000 British troops are due to move into the region in the next couple of months.
Twelve Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002 – 11 soldiers and one diplomat.
Earlier this month, Cpl. Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S., and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta., were killed when their light armoured vehicle smashed into a taxi and flipped during a routine patrol near Kandahar.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/28/kandahar060328.html
