Dutch Air Force reinforces Canadians ground troops on demand

Battleground Afghanistan

OTTAWA - Dutch F16 jets and Apache helicopters repeatedly have come to the assistance of Canadian ground troops in the Afghan province of Kandahar. The Canadians have about 2,000 soldiers in the area. Thus far, there have been over 40 Canadian casualties.

In one encounter, a Dutch Apache opened fire on an enemy position near the village of Pasab where Canadian soldiers needed air support. A few days later, Dutch helicopters came into action twice as requested by the Canadians. During fighting in the Panjawy Valley, Dutch F16 jets joined in the action. Dutch, Canadian and Afghan ground troops also tangled with rebels near Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan, killing about twenty insurgents. The Dutch suffered two casualties so far.