Iraq IED attack destroys ASLAV

THREE Australian soldiers were injured and an armoured vehicle was destroyed when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in one of three attacks in Southern Iraq on April 23.

The soldiers from 2 Cav Regt were patrolling in Dhi Qar province north of Nasariyah in two ASLAVs when an IED exploded as they passed.

One of the soldiers, who suffered lower leg injuries including burns, lacerations and a broken ankle, will return to Darwin after completing initial medical treatment in Baghdad.

Brig Gus Gilmore, Director General Public Affairs, said the soldiers were evacuated by coalition helicopters and were initially treated at the US hospital at Talil air base.

“The first ASLAV received the most significant damage. It was subsequently destroyed by fire.

Of the three occupants, two were wounded and one received burns to his lower legs,” he said.

Two other vehicles suffered only mobility damage and were unable to move.

In a separate incident, a patrol was engaged by seven rocket propelled grenades.

Later that night, troops were forced to use small arms fire against a vehicle that approached the incident site at high speed and ignored warning signs to stop or slow down.

Brig Gilmore said there were no reported injuries to occupants and no ADF personnel or assets were damaged as a result of those contacts.

“The incident site has been secured by the Overwatch Battle Group-West personnel.

The Iraqi army and the Iraqi security forces have assisted in securing the site,” he said “This is not the first time an attempted IED attack has occurred on our people in Iraq and Afghanistan – they face these types of threats on a regular basis.

“ASLAV and Bushmasters provide a high level of protection to our personnel operating in the Middle East and indeed it’s largely due to that level of protection that the nature of this incident was not more serious in the end result.”

Soldiers were again fired on by small arms and a rocket while attempting to recover the destroyed ASLAV.