Harjit Sajjan apologizes for claiming he was architect of Operation Medusa

By News Staff

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has issued an apology for his remarks which overstated his involvement in one of Canada’s most successful battles in Afghanistan.

During a speech in New Delhi back on April 18, Sajjan claimed he was the “architect of Operation MEDUSA where we removed 1,500 Taliban fighters off the battlefield…and I was proudly on the main assault.”

Sajjan’s comments, which were first reported by the National Post, were denounced by several officers who also served in Afghanistan at the time of the operation.

“I made a mistake ‎in describing my role,” Sajjan said in a written apology posted on Facebook on Saturday. “I wish to retract that description and apologize for it. I am truly sorry.”

“While I am proud of the role I played during my deployments to Afghanistan, my comments were in no way intended to diminish the roles of my former superiors and fellow soldiers. To them I offer my sincere apologies.”

What I should have said is that our military successes are the result of the leadership, service and sacrifice of the many dedicated women and men in the Canadian Forces. Operation Medusa was successful because of leadership of MGen (Ret’d) Fraser and the extraordinary team with whom I had the honour of serving.”

Operation Medusa was a Canadian-led offensive in 2006 in an area of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan against the Taliban, fought primarily by the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. While approximately 550 insurgents were killed, the battle resulted in the deaths of 12 Canadian soldiers.

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