Taliban Weapon And Munition Caches Destroyed

Department of Defence Media Mail List
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DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE

MSPA 034/09 Friday, 6 February 2009

Taliban Weapon And Munition Caches Found And Destroyed By Australian Troops

Taliban insurgents operating against Australian and coalition forces have suffered a significant setback with the discovery and destruction of two weapon caches by Australian soldiers in Oruzgan province in as many weeks.

During an ongoing operation in the Baluchi Valley over last weekend, a significant quantity of home-made explosives, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components and ammunition were discovered. Some items were recovered for further analysis while the ammunition and rockets were subsequently destroyed.

A Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) patrol had identified a road-side bomb and during the device’s removal found the cache of explosives and ammunition nearby.

In a separate operation in mid January, members of the MRTF also found a munitions cache that included 107 and 82mm rockets, similar to those that have been fired at Australian troops in Forward Operating Bases.

Patrol Commander, Lieutenant Ashley Judd said the discovery of the high explosive rockets and their subsequent destruction by the MRTF soldiers would decrease the threat posed to both the local population and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops.

“This is a big victory and obviously a deterrent against the enemy knowing that there is nowhere they can put their weapons and we won’t find them,” Lieutenant Judd said.

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

The Australian soldiers are maintaining their high tempo of vehicle and foot patrols. This includes elements that are conducting operations specifically targeting the Taliban’s IED command and control networks.

As operations are ongoing it is not possible to disclose further details.

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