Three Afghan Soldiers Killed, Two Wounded

Three Afghan Soldiers Killed, Two Wounded And One Australian Soldier Wounded In Separate Incidents

Three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed, and two wounded after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated under the vehicle in which they were travelling.

In a separate incident, an Australian soldier was slightly wounded when his Bushmaster vehicle struck an IED in another location.

Both attacks occurred while the soldiers were on separate patrols north of Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, 30 January 2010.

Members of the Second Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, who observed the strike on the ANA vehicle, moved rapidly to render assistance to the wounded before coordinating an aero-medical evacuation of the soldiers from the area for further medical treatment.

The Australian soldier wounded in the earlier IED strike on his Bushmaster vehicle received first aid on the spot for a superficial wound. He has been placed on restricted duties and is expected to make a full recovery.

A ramp ceremony was later held by ANA, Australian and Coalition forces for the Afghan soldiers killed.

"We extend our condolences to the families of those soldiers that have been lost," Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said.

Lieutenant General Evans said the two incidents are a reminder of the constant threat IEDs pose to personnel in Afghanistan.

"These incidents yet again remind us of the high threat environment coalition soldiers continue to face as they work to restore peace to the country," Lieutenant General Evans said.

This is the first Australian soldier to be wounded in Afghanistan in 2010.

ENDS

© Scoop Media