Defence will conduct an inquiry into an incident in which an Afghan boy was injured during an engagement with a group of suspected insurgents on Tuesday 1 May (mid-afternoon Afghan local time).
Australian Special Forces were undertaking a partnered security operation with elements of the Afghan National Security Forces in central Uruzgan.
The boy, who is believed to be 12 years old, is expected to recover. He is currently in a stable condition at the Role 3 Medical Facility at Kandahar, supported by his father.
Chief of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Ash Power, said ADF personnel provided immediate first-aid to the boy and called for a medical evacuation to the Role 2 Medical Facility at Tarin Kot.
“On arrival at Tarin Kot, medical teams stabilised the boy before transferring him to Kandahar for further treatment,” Lieutenant General Power said.
“The partnered force at the incident site identified the boy’s father and arranged for him to be moved to his son – they are both in the Kandahar Role 3 Medical Facility and I understand the boy is in a serious medical condition but is stable and he is responding to treatment.”
Defence will conduct an inquiry into the matter to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Defence routinely conducts inquiries into civilian casualties.
Media contact:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
