Nine Australian soliders wounded in Afghanistan

The Australian ^ | 3rd September 2008 | Mark Dodd

[naturalman1975]

AN Australian special forces soldier is fighting for his life and eight others are also wounded after they were ambushed overnight by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

The soldiers were attacked with rocket propelled grenades and guns as they were returning in vehicles from an operation targeting Taliban fighters in strife-torn Oruzgan province.

One soldier is suffering ``life threatening'' wounds, five others have serious injuries and three have ``slight wounds,'' a Defence Department spokeswoman said this morning.

It is the highest number of casualties Australian troops had experienced in a single incident since the Vietnam war, defence spokesman brigadier Brigadier Brian Dawson told reporters.

Their names have not been released nor details of their injuries, although it has been confirmed they all suffered bullet wounds. Their families have been told.

Defence force chief Angus Houston said it was fortunate that no Australians had been killed.

``It is a very dangerous place and we were involved in an activity with other forces. I guess we were ambushed and this is what happens,'' Air Chief Marshal Houston told reporters.

Brigadier Dawson said the wounded soldiers were provided immediate first aid by fellow members of their patrol at the scene of the contact and evacuated by helicopter to ISAF medical facilities.

"All nine soldiers have been evacuated from the area of the contact and are receiving the best possible medical care at present," Brigadier Dawson said in a Defence statement.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Prayers for their recovery!

[snoringbear]

“Prayers for their recovery!”

Yep, for sure. The Auzzies, along with the S. Koreans, are one of the few who hung with us in Vietnam. And, they have been staunch allies since.

[BlessedBeGod]

Prayers on the way that they be healed quickly and completely.