ianstone
06-07-2010, 10:18 PM
Diggers killed on bloody day in Afghanistan
Updated 44 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580328_3643779.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580328_3643784.jpg)Two dead: An Australian patrol in Afghanistan (Australian Defence Force)
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Related Story: 10 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580269_3643084.asx) [U]Good link
The Australian Defence Force has confirmed that two Australian soldiers from a Brisbane-based regiment died when their foot patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan yesterday.
The men, who have not been named, were on patrol in the Mirabad Valley on Monday morning (Afghan time) when they were attacked.
Acting Defence Force chief Lieutenant General David Hurley said one soldier died at the scene while another died of his wounds in a Coalition medical facility.
The incident is the first time two Australian soldiers have been killed on the same day since the Vietnam War.
Earlier NATO confirmed that 10 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers - which the ADF said did not include the Australians - had also been killed in Afghanistan on Monday in the deadliest day in months for foreign forces.
The dead men, who were both on their first tours in Afghanistan, were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks and were working with the Mentoring Task Force.
Their deaths take the Australian death toll in Afghanistan to 13 since 2002.
An explosives detection dog also died but there were no other casualties among Australian or Afghan troops at the scene.
"I speak for the entire Australian Defence community when I tell you I am deeply saddened by the loss of these two brave Australian soldiers," Lieutenant General Hurley said.
Lieutenant General Hurley also read from a statement by Defence Force Chief Angus Houston - who is travelling to Pakistan - in which he said he was "devastated" by their deaths.
"I want [the soldiers' families] to know that these two fine soldiers were outstanding Australians," he said in the statement.
Speaking on behalf of Defence Minister John Faulkner, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet offered his condolences on behalf of the Government.
"Two of our finest Australians have been taken from us," he said.
"Sadly their sacrifice reminds us that the mission in Afghanistan is extremely dangerous."
The soldiers' deaths were confirmed earlier by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.
"I think on all sides here today our hearts go out to the families of these two soldiers who have died in the war on terror and the fight for peace," she told the Queensland Parliament.
"These two soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice and it's a very sad day for their families."
In the worst incident, five US soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the country's east.
Updated 44 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580328_3643779.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580328_3643784.jpg)Two dead: An Australian patrol in Afghanistan (Australian Defence Force)
[/URL]
Related Story: 10 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r580269_3643084.asx) [U]Good link
The Australian Defence Force has confirmed that two Australian soldiers from a Brisbane-based regiment died when their foot patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan yesterday.
The men, who have not been named, were on patrol in the Mirabad Valley on Monday morning (Afghan time) when they were attacked.
Acting Defence Force chief Lieutenant General David Hurley said one soldier died at the scene while another died of his wounds in a Coalition medical facility.
The incident is the first time two Australian soldiers have been killed on the same day since the Vietnam War.
Earlier NATO confirmed that 10 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers - which the ADF said did not include the Australians - had also been killed in Afghanistan on Monday in the deadliest day in months for foreign forces.
The dead men, who were both on their first tours in Afghanistan, were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks and were working with the Mentoring Task Force.
Their deaths take the Australian death toll in Afghanistan to 13 since 2002.
An explosives detection dog also died but there were no other casualties among Australian or Afghan troops at the scene.
"I speak for the entire Australian Defence community when I tell you I am deeply saddened by the loss of these two brave Australian soldiers," Lieutenant General Hurley said.
Lieutenant General Hurley also read from a statement by Defence Force Chief Angus Houston - who is travelling to Pakistan - in which he said he was "devastated" by their deaths.
"I want [the soldiers' families] to know that these two fine soldiers were outstanding Australians," he said in the statement.
Speaking on behalf of Defence Minister John Faulkner, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet offered his condolences on behalf of the Government.
"Two of our finest Australians have been taken from us," he said.
"Sadly their sacrifice reminds us that the mission in Afghanistan is extremely dangerous."
The soldiers' deaths were confirmed earlier by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.
"I think on all sides here today our hearts go out to the families of these two soldiers who have died in the war on terror and the fight for peace," she told the Queensland Parliament.
"These two soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice and it's a very sad day for their families."
In the worst incident, five US soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the country's east.