Three Australian Soldiers Wounded In Afghanistan

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19th May 2010, 06:59pm - Views: 793





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DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE



Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT

Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545


MSPA 178/10

Wednesday, 19 May 2010


Three Australian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan


Three soldiers from Australia’s 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF1) suffered minor

wounds on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device detonated against their

Bushmaster vehicle in the Chora region of Oruzgan Province.


One soldier will return to Australia for further treatment while the other two soldiers

are expected to return to full duties after a short period of recovery.


Commanding Officer of the MTF1, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Blain, said the soldiers

had spoken to their families and were receiving further medical treatment at the ISAF

military facility in Tarin Kowt.


“These men are receiving the best of care – they are in a satisfactory and stable

condition and are resting comfortably,” Lieutenant Colonel Blain said.


“This incident once again demonstrates the dangers faced every day by Australian

soldiers as well as the local people in Oruzgan. 


“Fortunately the Bushmaster vehicle took the brunt of the blast and protected the

soldiers from more serious wounds.”


Lieutenant Colonel Blain said insurgents place improvised explosive devices in areas

frequented by the local people as well as Australian, ISAF, and Afghan personnel. 


He said improvised explosive devices indiscriminately killed and injured the local

population as well as security forces. 


“This IED could easily have detonated under the car of a local family,” Lieutenant

Colonel Blain said. 


“The insurgents clearly do not care about the well being of the Afghan people.” 


These casualties bring the number of Australians wounded this year to 26. Eighteen of

those soldiers were members of the MTF1. To date 126 personnel have been wounded

since Operation SLIPPER began.


For more information on the ADF’s operation in Afghanistan and ADF casualty

definitions and statistics go to: http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/index.htm


Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664







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