Canada in Afghanistan

Timeline created by dfrancey in History

Timeline Text view

Event Date:	Event Title:	Event Description:
10/07/2001	Chretien's announcement	Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal government announces that Canada will contribute troops to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan.
10/08/2001	Operation Apollo	Defence Minister Art Eggleton announces the launch of Operation Apollo, Canada's contribution to the U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan. Canada announces it will send 2,000 troops, six warships and six planes to the Persian Gulf.
12/01/2001	Commando unit arrives in Afghanistan	Forty troops from Joint Task Force 2 -Canada's elite commando unit -arrive in Afghanistan. They are the first Canadian soldiers to arrive in the country.
02/07/2002	Combat troops arrive	First regular combat troops from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry arrive in Afghanistan for a six-month mission.
04/18/2002	Friendly fire kills four	Four Canadian soldiers are killed in a friendly-fire incident after an American F-16 fighter dropped a laser-guided bomb on them during a training exercise. Sgt. Marc Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, Pte. Richard Green and Pte. Nathan Smith are the first Canadian casualties in Afghanistan.
07/17/2003	Kabul headquarters	Canada takes command of the 3,600-strong international peacekeeping force in Kabul.
02/09/2004	Lt.-Gen. Rick Hillier takes command	Canadian Forces Lt.-Gen. Rick Hillier takes six-month command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, leading 5,500 soldiers from more than 30 countries.
08/07/2005	Moving to Kandahar	Approximately 250 Canadian soldiers take over the provincial reconstruction team based in Kandahar.
05/17/2006	Capt. Nichola Goddard killed	Capt. Nichola Goddard becomes the first female Canadian combat soldier to be killed when she dies during a firefight with Taliban insurgents. Later that day the House of Commons approves an extension of the Canadian deployment to Afghanistan until 2009.
09/03/2006	Four soldiers killed	Four Canadian soldiers are killed and nine others are wounded during fighting with Taliban insurgents outside Kandahar.
09/04/2006	Friendly fire death	Pte. Mark Anthony Graham is killed and more than 30 Canadian soldiers are wounded in a friendly fire incident after two U.S. warplanes accidentally strafe NATO forces.
04/08/2007	Six soldiers killed	Six Canadian soldiers are killed when a roadside bomb detonates near their armoured vehicle. Two more Canadian troops are wounded. It is described as the deadliest day in combat for Canadian troops since the Korean War.
07/04/2007	Deadly day in Panjwaii	Six Canadian soldiers and their translator are killed by a roadside bomb while riding in an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan's Panjwaii district.
03/13/2008	Mission extended	House of Commons votes to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan until 2011.
12/30/2009	Michelle Lang killed	Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang is killed when the armoured vehicle she is riding in strikes a roadside bomb. Four Canadian soldiers are also killed in the attack. She is the first Canadian journalist killed in Afghanistan.
05/18/2010	Colonel killed	Col. Geoff Parker is killed after a car full of explosives drove into a NATO convoy. Parker, 42, is the highest-ranking Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.
10/05/2010	Captain dismissed	Capt. Robert Semrau is demoted and dismissed from the Canadian Forces after being convicted of disgraceful conduct for shooting a severely wounded Taliban fighter on an Afghan battlefield in October 2008.
11/01/2010	Combat role to end	Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces the Canadian military presence in Afghanistan will continue in a non-combat role until 2014.
Timespan Dates:	Timespan Title:	Timespan Description:
01/01/2001 to 12/31/2011	Canada's mission in Afghanistan: 2001-2011