Voor de tweede keer deze week is in Uruzgan een Australische militair om het leven gekomen. Ditmaal gebeurde dat tijdens een poging een bermbom (IED, Improvised Explosive Device) onschadelijk te maken. Persoonlijke details over het slachtoffer of de locatie van zijn sneuvelen zijn nog niet vrijgegeven. Hij is het tiende Australische slachtoffer in Uruzgan.

Woensdag namen Afghaanse, Australische en Nederlandse militairen plechtig afscheid van Corporal Mathew Hopkins, een Australische militair die maandag bij een vuurgevecht met de Taliban was gesneuveld.

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

An Australian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while conducting operations in southern Afghanistan.
Australian soldiers were conducting a route clearance early this morning local time when the IED was detected.
In the course of dealing with the device there was an explosion. It is believed that the soldier, who was a specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, was killed instantly.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the soldier was highly skilled and courageous.
“He was an expert in countering IEDs and he lost his life trying to make the environment safe for his mates and people of Afghanistan.”
“While we cannot confirm at this stage what caused the explosion, unfortunately the very nature of these improvised devices means they are unstable and this makes them exceptionally difficult to deal with.”
“Sadly, despite the ADF’s comprehensive approach to training; our counter IED awareness and well proven tactics, techniques and procedures in countering IED’s, in this instance, tragically a soldier was killed.
“My prayers and thoughts go out to the family of this soldier who was made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our Nation. I am humbled by his courage.”
The soldier’s family have been notified and his name has been requested to be withheld.
No other Australian soldiers were wounded in the incident.
As operations are ongoing, Defence is not able to release further details at this time.

(bron: Ministerie van Defensie Australië)