Canadian Forces on new Kandahar offensive

The Canadian Forces in Afghanistan are part of a new battle offensive in a tactically crucial region inKandahar province.

This is likely the last major offensive by Task Force Kandahar.

Operation Baawar, which is Pashto for assurance, will be focusing on a region known as the Horn of Panjwaii, the Forces said. The Taliban lost control of the Panjwaii districtduring Operation Medusa in 2006 but has since regained influence there.

The U.S.military and the AfghanNational Army have secured the area aroundthe Horn of Panjwaiifor the past couple of months.

Lt.-Col. Michel-Henri St-Louis, the Canadian battle group commander, said a large force ofU.S. paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division have been on duty between Zangabad and Mushan since late October.

Now, Canadian Forceswill move inwith the Afghan National Army and support from the U.S. military to secure the entire Horn of Panjwaii, village by village.An Afghan battalion,called a kandak, is leading the operation.

Canadian soldiers are alsoleading efforts to build a road that will reconnect this district with the rest ofKandahar province.