Updated Tue. Mar. 27 2007 8:30 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Two Canadian soldiers were injured in Afghanistan Tuesday when their LAV-3 armoured vehicle was attacked by a suicide bomber west of Kandahar City, in the Zhari district.
The soldiers were travelling in a small convoy just east of Patrol Base Wilson when Taliban fighters began launching rocket-propelled grenades, military officials confirmed.
The platoon, from the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group, drove through the attack but was then hit by a car suicide bomber in an area known as Ambush Alley.
Capt. Matt Allen, the commander of the convoy, praised the response of his soldiers.
"They were brilliant, their performance was outstanding,'' Allen told The Canadian Press.
"It seemed like an hour but it was under a minute. And then things were sorted out and we kept going.''
The convoy managed to return fire on the Taliban but there were no reports of enemy casualties.
After the suicide bombing attack, the convoy managed to link up with troops of Charlie company, 3 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Initial reports said the convoy had driven over a roadside bomb.
One of the injured soldiers suffered a broken arm and is being flown to Germany for treatment. The second soldier suffered minor injuries. Neither reported their injuries until after the attack.
"They continued to perform their jobs like there was nothing wrong with them,'' said Allen.
"When the opportunity presented itself to stop and assess it, that's when they reported their injuries. It was amazing.''
The military has not released the names of the soldiers involved.
Roadside bombs, random rocket attacks and suicide bombers are the most common dangers facing troops as they struggle to bring security to the Kandahar province.
The coalition battles in the Panjwaii last summer killed hundreds of Taliban and forced the insurgency underground.
With files from The Canadian Press
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