Image Gallery 2009
15 June 2009
Contact with Taliban during Operation Zamarai Lor
The Commanding Officer of the first Australian Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF – 1) MRTF, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel has praised the growing capability of Afghan soldiers following the successful completion of a combined Afghan-Australian cordon and search operation.
Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel said the Afghan and Australian forces recently completed “Operation Zamarai Lor” (Tiger Scythe) in the Miribad region of Uruzgan Province, to the east of the MRTF’s main base at Tarin Kowt.
Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel praised the growing capability of the soldiers from the 2nd Kandak of the Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade who are being mentored and supported by Australia’s Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT).
LTCOL Gabriel said he was pleased with the way that the Afghan soldiers had taken the fight to the Taliban insurgents, moving forward through difficult terrain against a dangerous adversary who used rocket propelled grenades, machine gun fire and other weapons.
The four-day mission centred on cordon and search operations within the Sorkh Lez village.
This latest operation pushed insurgents back further, with the ANA and MRTF – 1 soldiers discovering a small cache of weapons on the first day, before the insurgents attacked with multiple engagements occurring during the conduct of the operation.
The first contact of the operation began with a number of RPG rounds being fired from a distance at the combined Afghan and Australian patrols. Insurgents then continued the attack using small arms fire.
The Afghan and Australian soldiers returned to the village to continue searching for a second day and found it largely deserted. Shortly after midday, the insurgents again attacked the patrol with RPG and small arms fire from close range. The combined Afghan-Australian forces manoeuvred and engaged the enemy with Afghan National Army and Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team elements fighting side by side.
The combined Afghan-Australian force continued to be engaged with small arms, machine gun fire and RPGs, as the insurgents attacked from multiple positions.
Adding to the difficulty of the conditions was the extreme heat of the Afghan summer, which saw the battle being fought as temperature climbed to near forty degrees.
No Australians were wounded during these contacts. One ANA soldier received a minor wound, however was able to continue on with the mission.
| 20090527adf8185016_0014 Alert for any threat, Sergeant Daniel Kerwin moves through the lush fields of Sork Lez as he and his platoon engage Taliban insurgents during one of the contacts during Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0042 Lance Corporal Joseph Byrnes (left) gives Private Adrian Titiriga (right) target indications as he engages Taliban insurgents, during a five-hour contact which occurred in the Miribad region of Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0060 Lieutenant Thomas Larter (right), a Platoon Commander from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk, issues quick orders during a lull in the fighting with Taliban insurgents as part of Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0067 Private Ryan Phoenix gets a hand from a mate as he crosses one of the numerous aqueducts which criss-cross the rural terrain in southern Afghanistan. The soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force are moving between positions during a long and fierce contact with Taliban insurgents which occurred as they conducted Operation Zamarai Lor in the Miribad region of Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0108 Private Christopher Gaglairdi, from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force races between positions as Taliban insurgents engage Australian and Afghan forces during an operation in the village of Sork Lez, Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0126 Sergeant Daniel Kerwin moves rapidly across an Afghan footpad as his platoon engages Taliban insurgents during operations in Uruzgan Province, Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0128 Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Thomas Larter, coordinates his soldier’s movements during an intense contact with Taliban insurgent forces, during Operation Zamarai Lor in southern Afghanistan. Covering his Commander is the Platoon Sergeant, Daniel Kerwin. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0195 Private Graeme Wood (background right) and Private Bradley Halpin (background left) prepare to conduct a room clearance as their platoon assaults through the village of Sork Lez. Taliban insurgents have been using the local compounds as firing points to attack the soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force. Covering their approach in the foreground is Private Benjamin Taperek. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0204 Lieutenant Thomas Larter (left) and Bombardier Thomas Grieve (right), assault forward towards Taliban insurgent positions during a prolonged and fierce contact on the second day of Operation Zamarai Lor, in the Miribad region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0212 Soldiers from 3 Platoon, Combat Team Tusk, take cover behind a mud brick wall as they engage Taliban insurgent forces during Operation Zamarai Lor in the village of Sork Lez, Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0312 Communicating with his higher command via radio, Platoon Commander Lieutenant Thomas Larter, crosses an aqueduct as he leads his soldiers back to their overnight positions, following a five-hour contact with Taliban insurgent forces during Operation Zamarai Lor in the Miribad region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090527adf8185016_0316 Tired but elated from their successful encounter with insurgent forces, Private Michael Egan and his fellow Combat Team Tusk soldiers cross an aqueduct en route to their overnight camp. (Date taken: 27 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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