American and British airplanes offered support Friday as Canadian and Afghan troops exchanged heavy fire with Taliban fighters in a major battle west of Kandahar.

The troops are on the front lines in NATO's Operation Medusa, a large-scale offensive aimed at driving Taliban fighters from their strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

Canadian Army medic Darren Dyer surveys the damage from coalition bombing as Canadian troops advance in Panjwaii, Afghanistan, on Friday.
(Les Perreaux/Canadian Press)

A two-day lull in Operation Medusa appeared to be over, said CBC reporter Carolyn Dunn, who is about a kilometre from the front lines, along the border between the Panjwaii and Zhari districts about 40 kilometres west of Kandahar.

British Harrier fighter jets, American A-10 Thunderbolts and Apache attack helicopters were offering "spectacular" air support to the Canadian and Afghan fighters, Dunn said.

The sound of heavy automatic gunfire could also be heard, likely from Canadian light armoured vehicles, she said.

(CBC)

Lt.-Col. Nick Grant-Thorold, a NATO officer in Afghanistan, said NATO forces killed up to 30 Taliban fighters Friday during the operation. NATO says it has killed 290 Taliban fighters since the operation started on Sunday.

Taliban representatives have denied the number is that high.

Panjwaii has been a hotbed of Taliban activity in southern Afghanistan. It's the location where four Canadians were killed in a battle with the Taliban on Sunday, and where another Canadian was killed Monday when two U.S. jets mistakenly fired on his platoon.

NATO calls for more support

The fight against the Taliban was expected to dominate the agenda as top generals from the 26 NATO countries met for two days of talks in Warsaw starting Friday.

The meetings were to be chaired by NATO's chief military advisor, Canadian Gen. Ray Henault, while Canada is represented by its chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier.

NATO's supreme allied commander, U.S. Gen. James Jones, acknowledged Thursday that the alliance has been surprised by the "level of intensity" of Taliban attacks, but said he believes the mission is entering a decisive phase.

"In the relatively near future, certainly before the winter, we will see this decisive moment in the region turn in favour of the troops that represent the government," Jones said Thursday at NATO's military headquarters in southern Belgium.

He added that the goal is to "destroy" Taliban fighters before they head back into the mountains with the onset of winter in the next few weeks.

Jones commended Canada for the more than 2,000 troops currently fighting in southern Kandahar and the thousands who have served in the country since 2002.

Jones said he'll make a special appeal " to nations in general" during the meeting.

"We will put a special appeal out to nations who have not contributed as much, who have the capacity to do more, but I think Canada has given very, very generously," he told CBC News.

More than 2,000 new troops wanted

NATO officials say they have 85 per cent of the total resources promised at the beginning of the Afghan mission, and need that missing 15 per cent to finish the job.

About 18,500 military personnel from 37 countries are currently serving under the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, according to the ISAF website.

However, some countries have contributed troops to the ISAF mission under very specific rules of engagement. For example, it would take an act of parliament before German troops could join in the fight in the south.

Lt.-Col. Nick Grant-Thorold, a NATO officer in Afghanistan, said Friday that the commanding officer is pleased with the force, but that a larger force would be welcomed.

"If he has more troops, he can do things more quickly," said Grant-Thorold.

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor agreed Thursday that Canada is shouldering more than its share in Afghanistan and said he'd be surprised if Canada was asked to do more.

Five Canadian soldiers have been killed since Operation Medusa started on Sunday. Since the mission started four years ago, 31 soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.

With files from the Associated Press