Australian Special Forces Raid Taliban

Afghan security troops and Australian Special Forces have conducted disruption operations in southern Afghanistan that successfully targeted Taliban networks in an insurgent stronghold in northern Kandahar province. The large scale offensive against Taliban insurgents in the district of Shah Wali Kot, was part of ISAF's HAMKARI initiative, an ongoing civil-military activity aimed at bringing security, governance and economic opportunity to the people of Kandahar. The five-day Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) and Special Operations Task Group operation involved heavy fighting against insurgents resulting in the deaths of a significant number of insurgents. On day two, the large-scale contact lasted over thirteen hours. On arrival by helicopter, the combined force was immediately engaged by insurgents using small arms and machine gun fire. Over a four and a half hour period, the Taliban used concealed fighting positions and access to aqueducts and creek lines to bring sustained fire against the coalition force. The combined force suffered two casualties from gunshot wounds; one Australian soldier was wounded in the arm while a partnered Afghan ANSF officer was struck in the side. While under fire from insurgents, both were rapidly aero medically evacuated to Tarin Kowt where they are recovering.