Weapons cache seizure a big blow to militants

[unhappycamper]

Weapons cache seizure a big blow to militants
By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, January 14, 2009

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canadian, British and Afghan forces have wrapped up a two-day operation that military officials say resulted in one of the largest finds of Taliban bomb-making materials in southern Afghanistan in recent months.

A Canadian military officer, speaking to reporters Monday night, said the operation, which took place last week and involved about 150 soldiers, had seriously disrupted a major Taliban bomb network in the districts of Khakrez and Shah Wali Kot, two insurgent strongholds about 25 miles north of the provincial capital.

"This operation was an unqualified success," said Maj. Marc Saint-Yves, deputy commander of 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. "We captured significant materials."

One Canadian soldier was killed during the operation, after his vehicle was struck by a bomb. Canada has lost 10 soldiers in since the beginning of December, all of them to bomb blasts.

Saint-Yves said British soldiers from Company K, 42 Royal Marines Commando were searching a compound when they discovered one small cache, which led to others.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59991