Media Room: Media Releases

Special Forces soldier Wounded in Action

An Australian soldier with the Special Operations Task Group has suffered delayed concussion caused by the blast of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which detonated close to him and other soldiers while on operations in Northern Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

The soldier was part of an Afghan and Australian partnered operation to disrupt Taliban leadership on the 1st of November when an IED detonated in close proximity to him.

When the soldier later presented with symptoms he was evacuated to the Role 2 Medical Facility at the Multi National Base Camp – Tarin Kot as a precautionary measure. He is in a stable condition and is being monitored.

No other Australian soldiers, civilians, Afghan or Coalition forces were wounded in the blast.

The announcement of this incident was delayed to maintain operational security for the duration of the operation, which continued after the strike.

59 Australian soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan this year, with 159 wounded since Australian operations in the country began.

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664