The goal of a major offensive that got under way in Afghanistan Friday is to reclaim previously-held ground in the volatile Zhari district -- and to ensure the Taliban doesn't trickle back into the region.
Operation Keeping Goodwill in Kandahar province saw the entire Canadian battle group move into Zhari on Friday, including tanks, light armoured vehicles and infantry, with the assistance of U.S. airpower.
Afghan soldiers led the operation, which is reported to be the largest Canadian campaign of the summer.
"All the objectives were attained. We are happy to say we had the support of the population," said Col. Claude Fournier.
The campaign came after weeks of smaller operations, where Canadian patrols made small raids on Taliban-held villages, probing the insurgents' strength, said CTV's Steve Chao, reporting from Kandahar.
The Zhari district is located about 20 or 30 kilometres west of Kandahar city.
In September 2006, the Canadian military carried out Operation Medusa in Zhari and Panjwai districts. That operation saw Canadian troops plunged into some of the fiercest combat since the Korean War.
Canada's forces prevailed, but Chao said the Afghan police haven't been able to keep the Taliban from returning.
This time, the goal is to build fortified positions within the district, where Canadian soldiers can train Afghan police to become a competent fighting force, Chao said.
They have poor access to weaponry and no armoured vehicles. "So they've consistently been the target of Taliban attacks in recent months, especially since the Taliban have learned they can't take on NATO forces directly," Chao said.
Before the operation there was an estimated 500 Taliban fighters roaming freely in the area.
With southern Afghanistan's strategic centre, Kandahar city, not far away, Canada's military command considers it a key battleground in the fight against the Taliban, Chao said.
Canadian commanders are releasing few details about the operation, saying only that the campaign -- also known as Operation Khar Khowhai -- has been going on for about 24 hours and could continue for a few days. Training the police will be a longer-term task, he said.
Since the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment came to Afghanistan in late July, it has lost three soldiers. All three died in Zhari district, and all three died from roadside blasts.
