Australian Soldier Dies in Afghanistan, Is Iran to Blame?

It is actually amazing and a testament to the quality of the Australian Defence Force considering the continuous combat operations they have been part of in Afghanistan for years now that they have experienced only their second combat casualty:

AN Australian soldier has been killed and another seriously injured in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan.

The soldier, whose name has not been released, is the first Australian to die from a direct enemy attack in Afghanistan or Iraq. His body will be returned home under constant escort.

"We’re now working on arrangements to bring the body of the fallen soldier back to Australia," Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said.

"This will be by ADF or permanently chartered ADF aircraft and his body will be under constant escort by ADF personnel."

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) confirmed last night a group of Australians had been patrolling an area of Oruzgan province when they were targeted by militants who detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) next to their vehicle. [AAP]

The first ADF casualty was in February 2002 when a SAS soldier was killed by a landmine.  The soldier killed this time is the first soldier killed in direct attack by the enemy.  The soldier was part of a security detachment protecting an Australian engineer taskforce on a reconstruction mission in Oruzgan province.  The Australians have come under increasing attacks from the Taliban as the taskforce continues to make progress in their reconstruction mission. 

Additionally the Taliban may also be trying to test Australian political will to continue the mission before Australia’s parliamentary elections to elect their Prime Minister in a few months.  If they are I would be very surprised if the political opposition in Australia would advocate removing the ADF taskforce from Afghanistan because of casualties. 

Australian ASLAV

I think what could be the most interesting information about this attack is what type of IED was used.  The soldiers were driving in an armored ASLAV vehicle which means a very large bomb or a sophisticated EFP bomb had to be used to destroy it.  Just last month a convoy of vehicles from Iran was intercepted trying to smuggle into Afghanistan sophisticated road side bombs.  It will be interesting to see what the Aussie reaction will be if the death of their soldier is the responsibility of the Iranian government.