OMEN
08-09-2006, 12:11 AM
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A SHARP increase in the threat from southern Afghanistan's Taliban forces will see a much larger 400-strong Australian military force sent to the region from next month.
A SHARP increase in the threat from southern Afghanistan's Taliban forces will see a much larger 400-strong Australian military force sent to the region from next month.
John Howard will today announce an extra 120 infantry and an additional 14 Bushmaster armoured patrol vehicles will be sent to Afghanistan's troubled Oruzgan province.
The soldiers will work alongside a Dutch-led reconstruction taskforce.
Senior defence sources admit the new Afghanistan mission will be more hazardous than the operation in Iraq, where there have been no Australian combat fatalities.
Only three months ago the Government envisaged a 240-strong reconstruction team consisting mainly of army engineers, but the increased threat level has resulted in an Australian deployment that is 60 per cent bigger.
The biggest new element to the Australian commitment is a highly trained army rifle company, sent to protect troops helping build vital infrastructure in Oruzgan.
The six provinces of southern Afghanistan are already proving a stern test for NATO troops, which took over responsibility for the region from US-led coalition forces last week.
Heavily armed Taliban forces have killed seven International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers, including six British troops, in three southern provinces since August 1, using rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machineguns and roadside bombs.
Three days ago an ISAF patrol found a cache of weapons, explosives and electronic devices near a Dutch military base in Oruzgan. The electronic devices could have been used to trigger roadside bombs.
The threats posed by landmines and roadside bombs have prompted the Dutch army to rush through the purchase of 25 Australian-made Bushmaster armoured vehicles at a cost of $US32 million. The Australian Defence Force is supplying the Bushmasters to The Netherlands from its own stocks, enabling deliveries to start later this month.
The vehicles, manufactured by ADI in the Victorian city of Bendigo, can carry up to eight soldiers with two crew. They are equipped with an automated weapons system and thermal imaging equipment.
Defence expert Ross Babbage said yesterday Afghanistan was a "much more dangerous operation than Iraq has been for the ADF and there is a higher risk of casualties".
"The Taliban are extremely well trained and very experienced fighters and they enjoy quite a lot of local support."
The Australian force expects to be fully operational in the mountainous Oruzgan province from November, working closely with the 1400-strong Dutch reconstruction team under overall NATO command.
The Australian engineers and their infantry protectors will be based alongside Dutch troops at the provincial capital of Tarin Kowt.
The Dutch have recently moved to reinforce protection for their troops based at Tarin Kowt and another smaller base near the town of Deh Rawood, close to where the explosives cache was uncovered on Sunday. They have now brought in 155mm heavy artillery and F-16 fighter planes and Apache helicopters will be based at Kandahar airbase to provide back-up for the reconstruction team in Oruzgan province.
Australia's bigger military commitment to Afghanistan will be complimented by a new embassy in Kabul, with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer due to announce the appointment of an ambassador this month.
The Australian reconstruction taskforce will be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mick Ryan from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment based in Darwin.
They will be supported by two Chinook helicopters, which have provided air support to the special forces task group sent to Afghanistan in September 2005.
A 200-strong special forces group, including Special Air Service Regiment troops and commandos from the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, has seen extensive combat action against al-Qa'ida and Taliban forces in the past year and is due to return home next month.
The Government has decided not to send a smaller special forces team to bolster the new Australian taskforce in Oruzgan, despite the increased threat posed by Taliban forces.
http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_theaustralian.gif
A SHARP increase in the threat from southern Afghanistan's Taliban forces will see a much larger 400-strong Australian military force sent to the region from next month.
A SHARP increase in the threat from southern Afghanistan's Taliban forces will see a much larger 400-strong Australian military force sent to the region from next month.
John Howard will today announce an extra 120 infantry and an additional 14 Bushmaster armoured patrol vehicles will be sent to Afghanistan's troubled Oruzgan province.
The soldiers will work alongside a Dutch-led reconstruction taskforce.
Senior defence sources admit the new Afghanistan mission will be more hazardous than the operation in Iraq, where there have been no Australian combat fatalities.
Only three months ago the Government envisaged a 240-strong reconstruction team consisting mainly of army engineers, but the increased threat level has resulted in an Australian deployment that is 60 per cent bigger.
The biggest new element to the Australian commitment is a highly trained army rifle company, sent to protect troops helping build vital infrastructure in Oruzgan.
The six provinces of southern Afghanistan are already proving a stern test for NATO troops, which took over responsibility for the region from US-led coalition forces last week.
Heavily armed Taliban forces have killed seven International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers, including six British troops, in three southern provinces since August 1, using rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machineguns and roadside bombs.
Three days ago an ISAF patrol found a cache of weapons, explosives and electronic devices near a Dutch military base in Oruzgan. The electronic devices could have been used to trigger roadside bombs.
The threats posed by landmines and roadside bombs have prompted the Dutch army to rush through the purchase of 25 Australian-made Bushmaster armoured vehicles at a cost of $US32 million. The Australian Defence Force is supplying the Bushmasters to The Netherlands from its own stocks, enabling deliveries to start later this month.
The vehicles, manufactured by ADI in the Victorian city of Bendigo, can carry up to eight soldiers with two crew. They are equipped with an automated weapons system and thermal imaging equipment.
Defence expert Ross Babbage said yesterday Afghanistan was a "much more dangerous operation than Iraq has been for the ADF and there is a higher risk of casualties".
"The Taliban are extremely well trained and very experienced fighters and they enjoy quite a lot of local support."
The Australian force expects to be fully operational in the mountainous Oruzgan province from November, working closely with the 1400-strong Dutch reconstruction team under overall NATO command.
The Australian engineers and their infantry protectors will be based alongside Dutch troops at the provincial capital of Tarin Kowt.
The Dutch have recently moved to reinforce protection for their troops based at Tarin Kowt and another smaller base near the town of Deh Rawood, close to where the explosives cache was uncovered on Sunday. They have now brought in 155mm heavy artillery and F-16 fighter planes and Apache helicopters will be based at Kandahar airbase to provide back-up for the reconstruction team in Oruzgan province.
Australia's bigger military commitment to Afghanistan will be complimented by a new embassy in Kabul, with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer due to announce the appointment of an ambassador this month.
The Australian reconstruction taskforce will be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mick Ryan from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment based in Darwin.
They will be supported by two Chinook helicopters, which have provided air support to the special forces task group sent to Afghanistan in September 2005.
A 200-strong special forces group, including Special Air Service Regiment troops and commandos from the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, has seen extensive combat action against al-Qa'ida and Taliban forces in the past year and is due to return home next month.
The Government has decided not to send a smaller special forces team to bolster the new Australian taskforce in Oruzgan, despite the increased threat posed by Taliban forces.
http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_theaustralian.gif