Posted on 05/06/2006 3:56:23 PM PDT by naturalman1975
AN Australian special forces soldier wounded in a clash with Taliban forces late last month has returned to Australia for further medical treatment.
The soldier, serving with the Perth-based SAS regiment, underwent surgery at a coalition military base in Afghanistan before being evacuated to Australia.
He is the fourth Australian soldier to be wounded in action in Afghanistan since the SAS deployed to Afghanistan late last year.
The gunshot wound was not life-threatening and the soldier is expected to return to active service.
An Afghan national army soldier operating with the Australian patrol was also wounded during the contact and evacuated for medical treatment.
The Defence Department has declined to release further details of the incident or reveal the identity of the soldier and the nature of his injuries for operational security reasons.
Defence force chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the soldier was now back at home and in good spirits.
"The medical care provided to him by Australian and coalition medical staff was first-class and their professionalism during his early treatment has gone a long way towards ensuring his speedy recovery," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
"The ADF has ensured his family were kept fully informed of his condition following the incident. The soldier was able to speak with his family shortly after his initial surgery."
Australia's 300-strong special forces task group has been heavily involved in combat operations against Taliban and al-Qa'ida groups in southeastern Afghanistan since last September.
A 200-strong Australian provincial reconstruction team is scheduled to be deployed to Oruzgan province later this year in conjunction with NATO-led Dutch forces.
The last year has seen an increase in insurgent activity in Afghanistan with Taliban and al-Qa'ida militias deploying both suicide bombers and roadside explosives against coalition and Afghan army troops.
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