Media Room: Media Releases

RELEASE OF INQUIRY OFFICER REPORT INTO CIVILIAN CASUALTY CLAIMS ON JANUARY 5

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) investigation into alleged civilian casualty claims against Australian Defence Force soldiers during operations in the Baluchi Pass area of southern Afghanistan in early January has found there was no evidence to support a finding that the ADF caused civilian casualties.

Evidence gathered during the inquiry found that shrapnel taken from an Afghan who claimed to have been injured by ADF forces did not match the metal used in Australian mortar shells.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, today released the Inquiry Officer’s report into the operational circumstances surrounding the events of the 5^th of January.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the report found that the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) force element was targeting Taliban insurgents when they came under attack.

“Taliban insurgents were moving around the SOTG position and engaging them from multiple directions and locations,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“Throughout the morning, the soldiers returned fire using small arms, mortars and a missile from a supporting aircraft in order to defend themselves. It was a complex event where the soldiers were under fire in a hostile environment, operating in four locations and using four communications systems.

“In the course of the battle, the Taliban also fired a rocket propelled grenade and a 107mm rocket which exploded in the air and to the rear of the Australian soldiers, in an area where Afghan civilians were seen earlier that morning.”

Air Chief Marshal Houston said on the 5^th of January at approximately 1.30pm, the time when eight Afghans presented themselves to the coalition forward operating base for medical treatment, the SOTG had employed seven fire missions to engage the hostile insurgents.

“All of these missions were fired at identified targets and were in accordance with Australian and ISAF targeting procedures. All but one of the mortar missions were fully observed by a SOTG member and no civilian casualties were evident,” ACM Houston said.

 “The Inquiry Officer did find that there was one fire mission that was not observed, due to a limited field of view offered by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

“While the target was deemed legitimate, the process for observation of fire missions was not adhered to. However, it was determined that there was an intent to observe the mission and that there was no need for further action to be pursued.”

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the Inquiry Officer recommended a number of areas for improvement, including the clarification of the terminology used to order a fire mission and a review of current and future force structures which include mortar assets to ensure there are sufficient qualified observers to use them more effectively in combat.

“But we must understand that despite these areas for improvement, the actions of the SOTG soldiers were commendable in the circumstances; they were under attack from a determined enemy and were using discretion in applying direct and indirect fire to identified targets,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said

“The battles that the Afghan, coalition and Australian forces continue to face in Afghanistan are fraught with operational challenges such as this. The Taliban insurgents continue to fight from within built-up areas and residential compounds, endangering the local civilian population.”

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664