Image Gallery 2009
15 June 2009
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.
| 20090525adf8185016_0001 Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task force engage their Afghan National Army allies in a friendly late-afternoon game of volleyball at Patrol Base Atiq, prior to the commencement of Operation Zamarai Lor. Volley Ball is a favourite pastime with the Afghan soldiers. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090526adf8185016_0047 Private Graeme Wood – a soldier from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk – moves through a Wheatfield in the Miribad region of southern Afghanistan during Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090526adf8185016_0102 Private Reece Pearce (front) scans his arcs as he and Private Bradley Halpin (rear), a fellow Combat Team Tusk member, move through the lush green zone of Sorkh Lez during Operation Zamarai Lor in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090526adf8185016_0215 Lieutenant Thomas Larter meets with local villagers as his platoon moves through their village during Operation Zamarai Lor. Lieutenant Larter commands 3 Platoon, Combat Team Tusk. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090526adf8185016_0303 Sergeant David Austin moves across an Afghan ridgeline, high above the village of Sork Lez during operations in the Miribad region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090526adf8185016_0315 After a long, hot day of patrolling, Corporal William Pittaway and his fellow Australian soldiers climb the hills to their overwatch position, perched above the village of Sork Lez in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090528adf8185016_0054 Private Scott Yeates takes a fire position with his F89 Minimi machine gun, as he and his fellow 3 Platoon soldiers, provide a security screen during a search mission in support of Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090529adf8185016_0013 Australian soldiers and a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle are silhouetted against an Afghan sunrise as they prepare for another day's mission during Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090529adf8185016_0030 Private Dylan Parham scans for Taliban insurgent threat as he and his fellow 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force soldiers operate in the Miribad region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090529adf8185016_0104 Lieutenant Thomas Larter discusses an upcoming task with Australian Army Engineers during Operation Zamarai Lor in Sork Lez, Southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090529adf8185016_0116 Sapper Michael Hogan (centre) makes the lazy “E” sign, which represents Australian Army Engineers as his section from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force take a well earned rest during Operation Zamarai Lor. (Date taken: 29 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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