Canada Hands Kandahar Over to US 82d

The 82d Airborne has assumed responsibility of Kandahar from Canada as they prepare to exit the theater.

Canada relinquished command of Kandahar City in southern Afghanistan to the US army's 82nd Airborne Division on Thursday, as it begins to wind down its mission and NATO reshuffles its troops.

Canada's footprint in the war-torn nation has now shrunk to a brigade-sized unit south and west of the city in Dand, Daman and Panjwaii districts, after handing over the Zhari and Arghandab districts two weeks ago, Lieutenant Colonel Craig Dalton told a televised press conference.

Its entire force of 2,800 troops in Afghanistan will leave the country next year, as planned, after eight years spent routing insurgents as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

By: Brant