Media Room: Media Releases

WEAPONS AND MUNITION CACHES SEIZED

Taliban extremists operating against Australian and coalition forces continue to suffer significant setbacks with the discovery and destruction of two weapon caches by Australian soldiers in Oruzgan province. 

Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), with support from Australian Special Forces and other coalition troops, have uncovered significant munitions caches including weapons, ammunition, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making components, explosives and false and forged identity cards.

The daylight raids seized weapons and ammunition including assault rifles, a machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, RPGs, rocket and recoilless rifle warheads, mortar rounds, hand grenades and nearly 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition.

The discovery of the high explosives and the destruction of these items by the Special Operations Task Group will have a direct impact on the ability of Taliban extremists to target civilians and ISAF personnel in Oruzgan province. 

Some items were recovered for further analysis while the majority of ammunition and explosives were subsequently destroyed.  

The operation also seized approximately 300kg of opium resin.

Chief of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said the cache finds have continued the disruption of the manufacture of IEDs and use of weapon systems across the central and northern parts of Oruzgan province.

“It is a significant volume of material to be found in one area and its discovery and destruction will continue to disrupt the Taliban extremist’s networks,” Lieutenant General Evans said. 

The combined Afghan National Security Force and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation to clear the large number of compounds took one day.

Lieutenant General Evans said that the removal of explosive material, potential IED components and munitions would make life safer for all Afghan people in Oruzgan, and for the coalition troops who are supporting the Afghan National Security Forces.

“This operation highlights the ongoing commitment of Australian forces in Oruzgan to support the ISAF mission of protecting the population.”

This operation was supported by the ANSF, Coalition Forces and rotary wing assets.

Media note:

Imagery is available at: http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opslipper/images/gallery/2009/1019/index.htm

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