Operation hoover
| Operation Hoover | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theWar in Afghanistan (2001-present) | |||||||
| File:Cdn Sniper.JPG A Canadian sniper fires on a Taliban fighter during Operation Hoover | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Canada,.svg?lang=en){kind=small} Afghan National Armysupported by  Portugal  UK |
.svg?lang=en){kind=small} Taliban insurgents | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
LCol Mike Cessford Maj. David Quick |
Local Taliban commanders | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 000 | up to 300 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Canada 1 killed | unknown | ||||||
Operation Hoover is a Canadian led offensive against the Taliban in the Kandahar province district of Zhari. The aims of the operation are to root out as many as 300 Taliban fighters, mostly foreign fighters, who have moved into the villages of the Zhari district. During the first morning of the operation, soldiers from India company, commanded by Major David Quick, moved on foot into a blocking position. By dawn, the Canadians in India company were in place and spotted Taliabn fighters. The Taliban however, had also spotted the Canadians. Soon the Canadians and the Taliban began exchanging small-arms fire in a number of gun battles. Canadian snipers played a role in surgically removing individual Taliban fighters. As the sun rose, there was a bomb attack on a Canadian Leopard tank taking part in Operation Hoover. No casualties were taken, and the vehicle took only minor damage. Shortly afterwards, another bomb attack killed a Canadian soldier instantly. He was taking part in Operation Hoover as a mentor to units from the Afghan National Army when his dismounted patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device made up of anti-tank mines.