Operation Hoover was a Canadian-led offensive against the Taliban in the Kandahar Province

Kandahar Province

Kandahar or Qandahar is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly...

 district of Zhari. The aims of the operation were to root out as many as 300 suspected Afghan insurgents

Taliban insurgency

The Taliban insurgency took root shortly after the group's fall from power following the 2001 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to attack Afghan, U.S., and other ISAF troops and many terrorist incidents attributable to them have been registered. The war has also spread over the southern and...

 who had moved into the villages of the Zhari District

Zhari District

Zhari is a new district in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.Alternate spellings include Zheley or Zharey. The district was created from territories taken from Maywand and Panjwai districts...

.

Battle

During the first morning of the operation, Leopard tank

Leopard 2

The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...

s from the Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)

Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...

 entered Zhari, accompanied with pickup truck

Pickup truck

A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...

s filled with Afghan National Army

Afghan National Army

The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...

 troops. One of the tanks was hit by an improvised explosive device

Improvised explosive device

An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...

, but no casualties were reported.

Shortly afterwards, Cpl. Matthew McCully, a signals operator with the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of Land Forces Central Area of the Canadian army. It is currently based in CFB Petawawa...

, was killed when he stepped on a landmine. Another Canadian, as well as an Afghan translator, were also wounded in the incident which occurred outside Nalgham village.

Master Corporal Rob McGregor, of the Royal Canadian Regiment 2d Battalion, was injured in the operation when he fell and broke his ankle.