DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 139/09
Saturday, 25 April 2009
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN MAJOR BATTLES WITH TALIBAN
INSURGENTS
Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan have been successfully targeted by
Australian, coalition and Afghan National Security Forces in a recent series of
operations.
Australian Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) and the Mentoring and
Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) have been involved in major combat operations
against Taliban insurgents during operations which began in March.
SOTG operations supported coalition force operations in Helmand province which
has taken Taliban insurgents by surprise and left their operations in north Kajaki in
disarray.
The Commander of Australian forces in the Middle East, Major-General Mark Kelly
said Operation AABI TOORAH involved coalition forces from the United Kingdom,
United States, Netherlands and Australia in support of Afghan troops in a major strike
against Taliban operations in Helmand province.
“The key objective of the operation was to disrupt the insurgents in northern Helmand
province in order to support Afghan National Security Force and coalition framework
security operations.
“The SOTG were in the field, deep inside a Taliban stronghold for 26 days. They
were involved in 11 major contacts with Taliban insurgents that resulted in significant
disruptions to Taliban activities.”
MAJGEN Kelly said the SOTG force element faced the daily threat of small arms and
rocket attack as well as improvised explosive devices (IED). In one day alone 14
IEDs were identified. He said on one occasion insurgents that were spotted laying a
device were directly targeted using close air support.
“On the first of April, Australian troops entered an area that was considered an
insurgent stronghold and came under heavy and sustained contact with the Taliban. It
was a day-long series of attacks through 12 compounds. Australian forces responded
aggressively against the attackers and while the Taliban were determined in their
actions, they were seriously routed.”
The operation was not without its downside, with the tragic death of SGT Brett Till on
the 19th March, and the wounding of four others, one seriously.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
“Success is not without its risks and the Special Forces soldiers continued to
prosecute their objectives. The success of this operation is evidenced by the fact that
the Taliban have been denied their freedom of movement while Afghan locals, the
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces are now able to operate more
freely in the region. The Taliban insurgent network has been seriously disrupted while
its resources have been significantly degraded,” MAJGEN Kelly said.
The MRTF has continued in its role to support the Afghan National Army as it also
puts pressure on Taliban insurgents operating in central Oruzgan province.
During a recent operation near Karakak, approximately 12 kilometres north of Tarin
Kowt, the MRTF encountered a large number of Taliban insurgents while conducting
security support for an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) patrol.
The Taliban attacked the elements of the MRTF using small arms fire and rocket
propelled grenades during the intense contact. Dutch helicopters and US aircraft were
called to provide close air support against almost 40 insurgents.
The Commanding Officer of the MRTF, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel said the
MRTF responded immediately and took the fight to insurgents, regaining the
initiative.
“This was a very significant action. It resulted in numerous insurgent casualties and it
has pushed them back from an area where they enjoyed relative freedom of action,”
“It has put a very big hole in their plans,” LTCOL Gabriel said.
Operating near-by, the attack drew support from SOTG elements which blocked the
withdrawing Taliban. The SOTG came into contact with approximately ten
insurgents. During the extended contact a number of Taliban were killed and a large
weapons and IED cache were found. These were subsequently destroyed.
LTCOL Gabriel said the Australian and Afghan forces were doing a tough job under
difficult circumstances against a dangerous enemy.
LTCOL Gabriel also paid tribute to CPL Mathew Hopkins who was killed in March
during an OMLT patrol. He said ANZAC Day is a time that all Australians should
remember those that had served and those that have laid down their lives for their
country.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
