More Defence news: 11 May 2009 - 17 May 2009

Bomb making and ammunition caches found | Defence Budget Announced

Bomb making and ammunition caches found

14 May 2009 - The soldiers found two emplaced Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), bomb-making equipment and boxes of ammunition and rocket propelled grenades.

The cache finds and subsequent destruction will reduce the ability of Taliban insurgents to target civilians, Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force personnel in Uruzgan Province.

The Operation called Zamarai Silawel (Tiger Sweep) commenced the day after ANZAC Day.

An indication of the success of Australian and Afghan patrolling and civil efforts was highlighted when two elderly Afghans approached a patrol during the operation requiring emergency first aid for life threatening heart conditions.

The Australian and Afghan soldiers will continue to work side-by-side throughout the intensive combined patrolling program in order to disrupt and remove elements of the insurgency, including its command and control network.
 
For operational security reasons Defence will not reveal the specific tactics, techniques and procedures employed for dealing with IEDs. The release of this information would put the safety of ADF and Coalition personnel at risk.

More: Media release | Image Gallery | Operation Slipper

Defence Budget Announced

12 May 2009 - The Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon has announced that the Rudd Government will fund the 2009 Defence White Paper and deliver Force 2030 through a robust financial plan.

More: Defence Budget 2009 - 2010