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| Canadian Warships Leave for Arabian Sea |
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THU, OCT 18, 2001
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Three Canadian warships set out Wednesday from Canada for the Arabian Sea to support the U.S.-led war against terrorism, said Canadian military sources.
The destroyer HMSC Iroquois, the supply ship Preserver and the frigate HMCS Charlottetown departed from Canada's eastern harbor of Halifax, carrying about 900 sailors and air-force personnel. Another warship left European waters on October 8, heading for theArabian Sea.
They are part of the largest combined naval and air deployment by this country in a decade, the sources said.
"Canada has never been a nation to sit on the sidelines. We didnot pick this fight, but we will finish it because on the side of justice, there can only be one outcome of victory," said Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in the farewell speech.
The Prime Minister was joined by Defense Minister Art Eggleton, General Ray Henault, the chief of defense staff and other government and military officers.
Code named Operation Apollo, Canada's contribution to the U.S.-led coalition includes six ships, six aircraft and more than 2,000 service personnel, who will be engaged mostly in surveillance, support and delivery of food and other humanitarian help.
Some members, in particular the elite commando squad Joint Task Force 2, will join the coalition's special forces, perhaps inside Afghanistan. Their number and assignments will remain secret, General Henault was reported as saying earlier this month.
According to the military sources, the number of Canadians involved in Operation Apollo could increase if the conflict continues.
The United States began air strikes on Afghanistan October 7 to pressure the ruling Taliban regime to turn over Osama bin Laden, whom they believe is responsible for the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. About 5,500 people died or are missing in the attacks.
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