Australian soldiers rushed to the aid of four Afghan civilians and an Afghan soldier after a Taliban bomb exploded at a local market place in the southern Baluchi Valley, Uruzgan, Afghanistan on the 23rd of July.
The soldiers, from Australia’s 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1), launched a quick reaction force from the nearby Australian patrol base following the blast, which caused extensive damage to the markets.
The bomb, which instantly killed
Another local man who suffered severe injuries was given immediate first aid before being aero-medically evacuated to the International Security Assistance Force medical facility at Multi National Base Tarin Kot for further treatment.
Commanding Officer of MTF-1, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jennings, said the carnage caused by the bomb, especially the deaths of the two young children has been tough for the MTF-1 personnel.
“Scenes such as this one are challenging to the hardest of soldiers,” Lieutenant Colonel Jennings said.
“But our soldiers provided much needed medical help,” he added.
The incident highlights the techniques of harm and intimidation used by insurgents against innocent civilians and Afghan soldiers.
“We are anticipating more insurgent activity in the lead up to the Afghan parliamentary election in mid September,” Lieutenant Colonel Jennings added.
For more information on the Australian Defence Forces operation in Afghanistan go to http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/index.htm