Leslie Massey
Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014 resulted in the deaths of 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians. This was Canada's longest war and its first major combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953). The conflict also resulted in thousands of wounded Canadian soldiers and many veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
What You'll Learn
The Canadian war effort in Afghanistan
Canada's war effort in Afghanistan began in October 2001, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States by Al-Qaeda. The Taliban government in Afghanistan had been sheltering the terrorist group, and Canada joined a US-led multinational military coalition to overthrow the Taliban and attack Al-Qaeda.
Canada's initial involvement included sending a naval component to monitor the Arabian Sea and the region for terrorist activity, as well as deploying soldiers to Afghanistan. The first Canadian soldiers arrived in December 2001, with the main battle group arriving in February 2002. They joined American and British troops in Kandahar, fighting against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and providing protection for humanitarian operations and Afghanistan's new interim government.
In 2003, Canada joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by NATO in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. In 2005, Canadian forces returned to Kandahar, taking command of the region from US forces. This marked a more dangerous phase, as the situation in the country devolved into a full-blown counter-insurgency struggle. Canadian soldiers were tasked with providing security across Kandahar province and rooting out Taliban insurgents. They also took over responsibility for a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, aiming to win the "hearts and minds" of Afghan civilians and support local government leaders.
Canada's war efforts also included reconstruction projects such as the Dahla Dam and irrigation system, improving roads and bridges, constructing schools, and immunization programs. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) made up the bulk of these missions, along with personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other agencies.
Canada's combat role in Afghanistan ended in 2011, and the last Canadian troops left the country in March 2014. Over the course of the 12-year campaign, more than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served, and 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians died. Thousands of veterans suffered physical and psychological wounds, and many returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Canada's involvement in Afghanistan was politically controversial, with public opposition to the war growing over time. The financial cost of Canada's contribution was estimated to be as high as $18.5 billion by 2011. Despite the efforts of Canada and its allies, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgencies continued to destabilize the country, and in 2021, the Taliban retook control of most of Afghanistan as US forces withdrew.
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Canadian soldiers killed by US allies
Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan began in October 2001, with the first Canadian soldiers arriving in December 2001 and the main battle group arriving in February 2002. The war in Afghanistan was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War.
Canada's mission in Afghanistan resulted in the largest number of fatal casualties for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War. A total of 159 Canadian Forces personnel and 7 civilians died in the conflict.
The first Canadian casualties occurred in April 2002, when four soldiers were killed and eight were seriously wounded in the Tarnak Farm incident. This incident involved a United States warplane dropping a bomb on a training exercise, mistakenly believing that the Canadians were enemy soldiers. This incident was the most serious case of friendly fire experienced by the Canadian Forces in joint operations with allies since the Korean War.
In addition to the Tarnak Farm incident, there were several other instances of Canadian soldiers being killed by American allies during the war in Afghanistan. On September 4, 2006, Private Mark Anthony Graham, an Olympic athlete from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed when two US A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft strafed Canadian troops in a friendly fire incident. More than 30 other Canadian soldiers were wounded in this incident.
Another incident of friendly fire involving Canadian and American forces occurred on October 28, 2009, when Lieutenant Justin Boyes, from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed in an explosion while leading a foot patrol southwest of Kandahar City.
While the majority of Canadian casualties in Afghanistan were a result of enemy actions, a total of six Canadian soldiers died due to friendly fire from their American allies during combat training operations.
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Female Canadian soldiers killed
Canada's war in Afghanistan (2001-2014) was its longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953). The conflict resulted in the deaths of 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians. Three of those soldiers were women.
Captain Nichola Goddard
Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, MSM, was the first Canadian woman to be killed in action since World War II, the first female Canadian Armed Forces member killed during combat duty, and the first Canadian female combat soldier to be killed on the front lines. She was also the 16th Canadian soldier killed in Canadian operations in Afghanistan. Goddard was killed on 17 May 2006, during a firefight in the Panjwaye District. Her light armoured vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. She was known as a "forceful and secure commander whose troops were extremely loyal".
Major Michelle Mendes
Major Michelle Mendes was the first Canadian woman to die by suicide on an overseas deployment. An intelligence officer, she died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at Kandahar Airfield on 24 April 2009, only a few days after her arrival.
Corporal Karine Blais
Corporal Karine Blais was the second Canadian woman to die on active duty in Afghanistan. Blais was killed on 14 April 2009 when her armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
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Canadian soldiers' deaths by suicide
The war in Afghanistan (2001-2014) was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953). The conflict resulted in the deaths of 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians. However, the losses did not end there.
A Globe and Mail investigation revealed that at least 54 soldiers and veterans died by suicide after returning from the war in Afghanistan. This number is nearly one-third higher than the 38 reported by the newspaper a year prior. Many of these deaths are linked to the Afghanistan mission but are not counted in Canada's official death toll.
The investigation also revealed that two soldiers died by suicide during their deployment, and four others were suspected of doing so. This means that at least 60 Canadian soldiers and veterans died by suicide as a result of their involvement in the Afghanistan war.
The effects of the Afghanistan mission were clearly a factor in some of the suicides. Data collected by the military and The Globe and Mail showed that from January 2011 to April 2014, two soldiers were killed in combat in Afghanistan, while at least 29 soldiers died by suicide after returning home.
The Globe and Mail's investigation also found that the military had kept the suicide tally secret. Details only came to light after the newspaper obtained records through the Access to Information Act eight months after their initial request.
The Canadian military's involvement in Afghanistan resulted in significant losses, including the deaths of 158 soldiers and 7 civilians. However, the true toll of the war is even higher when considering the soldiers and veterans who died by suicide, both during and after their deployment. The effects of the conflict on the mental health and well-being of Canadian soldiers cannot be overlooked.
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Canadian soldiers' deaths by IEDs
Canadian soldiers faced a constant threat of death by IEDs during their time in Afghanistan. IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, were responsible for the majority of Canadian casualties in the war.
The first Canadian soldier to die from an IED blast was Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger, who was killed on October 2, 2003, when the jeep he was travelling in struck an explosive device while on patrol. Sgt. Robert Short was also killed in the same incident.
On December 30, 2007, Sgt. George Miok, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, and Pte. Garrett Chidley were killed when their armoured vehicle hit an IED in southern Kandahar. Canadian journalist Michelle Lang was also killed in the blast.
On December 23, 2009, Lt. Andrew Nuttall was killed when an IED detonated while he was on foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar.
IEDs were also responsible for the deaths of Sgt. John Wayne Faught, Cpl. Yannick Scherrer, Cpl. Steve Martin, Pte. Tyler William Todd, Pte. Kevin McKay, and many others.
In total, 97 Canadian soldiers died from IEDs or landmines during the war in Afghanistan.
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Frequently asked questions
158 Canadian soldiers died during the Afghanistan war.
Seven Canadian civilians died during the conflict.
Many Canadian soldiers were killed by roadside bombs, officially known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which targeted military convoys.
Thousands of other veterans of the war were wounded physically and psychologically, leading to additional deaths by suicide. Many Canadian veterans of the war in Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
