ID :
202803
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 14:32
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/202803
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29th Aussie soldier dies in Afghanistan
SYDNEY (AAP) - An Australian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan, the eighth to die this year and the 29th in almost a decade of conflict.
Defence force chief General David Hurley said the unnamed soldier, a member of the Townsville-based 2nd Battalion (2RAR), was participating in a night patrol with Afghan and other coalition troops about 2.30am Afghan time (8am AEST) on Monday when the IED detonated.
It occurred near an outpost called Patrol Base Anaconda in the Khaz Oruzgan region, about 85km northeast of the main base at Tarin Kowt.
"The soldier was seriously wounded and received immediate first aid from his patrol mates before an aero-medical team transferred him to the role two medical facility in Tarin Kowt, where he received further medical treatment," General Hurley told reporters.
"Unfortunately, the soldier died from his wounds shortly after arrival."
General Hurley said the soldier's family had been notified and, at their request, no personal details would be released at this stage.
He said the soldier was a respected member of 2RAR who was undertaking his first deployment to Afghanistan. He had previously served in East Timor in 2009.
He arrived in Afghanistan in June in the latest rotation of the Mentoring Task Force.
"The soldier's colleagues describe him as a man who excelled at any task he was assigned and a soldier who was proud to serve his country," General Hurley said.
Another International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldier was also wounded in the same incident and was in a stable condition.
No other Afghan or Australian soldiers were wounded.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered the nation's condolences to the soldier's family.
"We don't need to know this soldier's name to know that we have lost a brave man," she told reporters.
"And we don't need to know this soldier's name to know there's a family in the depths of grief tonight.
"As prime minister, I offer them the nation's condolences. Our most loving thoughts are with them as they absorb this, the most dreadful of news."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the soldier's death was another reminder of the dangers of the Afghanistan mission and of the bravery of Australian Defence Force personnel.
"Australians will share the grief of his family and comrades. On behalf of the coalition, I extend my condolences to his friends and loved ones," he said.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the government believed Australia was on track to complete the mission and transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces by 2014.
"We very strongly believe that what we are doing is not just in our own national security interests but in the international community's interest," he said.
"We are part of an international community effort to make sure that Afghanistan, particularly the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, does not again become a breeding ground for international terrorists."
Mr Smith said this soldier's death was a tragedy and a sad reminder to the families of the 28 other soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
"But equally it is a tragedy for our nation whenever we are on the receiving end of terrorist atrocities," he said.
Defence force chief General David Hurley said the unnamed soldier, a member of the Townsville-based 2nd Battalion (2RAR), was participating in a night patrol with Afghan and other coalition troops about 2.30am Afghan time (8am AEST) on Monday when the IED detonated.
It occurred near an outpost called Patrol Base Anaconda in the Khaz Oruzgan region, about 85km northeast of the main base at Tarin Kowt.
"The soldier was seriously wounded and received immediate first aid from his patrol mates before an aero-medical team transferred him to the role two medical facility in Tarin Kowt, where he received further medical treatment," General Hurley told reporters.
"Unfortunately, the soldier died from his wounds shortly after arrival."
General Hurley said the soldier's family had been notified and, at their request, no personal details would be released at this stage.
He said the soldier was a respected member of 2RAR who was undertaking his first deployment to Afghanistan. He had previously served in East Timor in 2009.
He arrived in Afghanistan in June in the latest rotation of the Mentoring Task Force.
"The soldier's colleagues describe him as a man who excelled at any task he was assigned and a soldier who was proud to serve his country," General Hurley said.
Another International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldier was also wounded in the same incident and was in a stable condition.
No other Afghan or Australian soldiers were wounded.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered the nation's condolences to the soldier's family.
"We don't need to know this soldier's name to know that we have lost a brave man," she told reporters.
"And we don't need to know this soldier's name to know there's a family in the depths of grief tonight.
"As prime minister, I offer them the nation's condolences. Our most loving thoughts are with them as they absorb this, the most dreadful of news."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the soldier's death was another reminder of the dangers of the Afghanistan mission and of the bravery of Australian Defence Force personnel.
"Australians will share the grief of his family and comrades. On behalf of the coalition, I extend my condolences to his friends and loved ones," he said.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the government believed Australia was on track to complete the mission and transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces by 2014.
"We very strongly believe that what we are doing is not just in our own national security interests but in the international community's interest," he said.
"We are part of an international community effort to make sure that Afghanistan, particularly the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, does not again become a breeding ground for international terrorists."
Mr Smith said this soldier's death was a tragedy and a sad reminder to the families of the 28 other soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
"But equally it is a tragedy for our nation whenever we are on the receiving end of terrorist atrocities," he said.
