Operational incident in Afghanistan

[dodger39]

DEFENCE MEDIA ALERT

        Operational incident in Afghanistan

What: The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner and the Acting Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley, will provide details of an incident in Afghanistan involving the Mentoring Task Force. 

When:  Saturday, 21 August 2010 at 1030 am.

Where:  R1 Theatrette - Russell Offices, Russell Drive, Canberra.

Background:

The ADF can confirm that Australian soldiers have been involved in an incident in Afghanistan.

The next of kin of those involved in the incident have been notified.

Defence will not provide additional information on this incident prior to the announcement at 1030 am.


(Word has it that possibly 2 KIA. Will update as soon as the official report is at hand.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Two Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Updated 5 minutes ago

20 Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. (Department of Defence, file photo)

Private Grant Kirby, 35, was on his first deployment to Afghanistan and had previously served in Iraq and East Timor.

Private Thomas Dale, 21, was one his first deployment to Afghanistan.

The men, serving with the 1st Mentoring Taskforce, were killed when an improvised explosive device went off near their Bushmaster armoured vehicle.

The incident occurred on Friday at 10:30am (local time).

Privates Kirby and Dale were from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

The two other soldiers wounded in the explosion were flown to a military hospital in Tarin Kowt.

A total of 20 Australian soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

SAS Trooper Jason Brown was killed in Afghanistan last week.

 

[tomahawk6]

Prayers out to the families of the fallen and injured Diggers.

 

[dodger39]

Thanks for updating this Sapper.

Condolences to the families.

R.I.P.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the fallen, and here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Two Australian Soldiers Killed in Action by Improvised Device:

Two Australian soldiers serving with the 1st Mentoring Task Force in Afghanistan have been killed in action when they were struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Private Tomas Dale, 21 and Private Grant Kirby, 35, were killed in action when they were struck by an IED.  Both of their families have been notified and they have agreed to the release of names.

Two other Australian soldiers were wounded in action in the explosion. Their wounds are not life threatening and the soldiers have contacted their families.

All of the soldiers involved in the incident are from the Brisbane based 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment.

The Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley said the incident occurred during a joint counter IED operation with soldiers form the Afghan National Army.

Lieutenant General Hurley said the soldiers were moving to an observation position in the Baluchi Valley to cover the operation when, at approximately 10.30 yesterday morning (Afghanistan time, Friday, 20 August), they struck an IED.

The two soldiers had dismounted from their Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle when they were struck by the explosive device. It is not known what triggered the device.

The wounded soldiers received immediate first aid at the scene and were aero-medically evacuated to the ISAF medical hospital at Tarin Kot.

The two deceased soldiers were also transferred to the military hospital ....

Statements from the families of the fallen here and here.

 

[jollyjacktar]

My deepest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of the fallen. 

 

[OldSolduer]

RIP Troops. Our condolences to the families of the fallen troops.

 

[Good2Golf]

Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Privates Kirby and Dale.

RIP soldiers.