The PM has described the latest Australian to die in Afghanistan as an elite soldier and a very brave man.
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has warned Australians not to "lull themselves" into a false sense of security as the war in Afghanistan winds down after our 40th fatality in a gunfight that also wounded two others.
In the first death since last October, the Special Forces soldier was shot and killed about 3pm (AEST) on Saturday in a firefight with Afghan insurgents in Khod Valley in southern Afghanistan.
An Australian soldier has been killed, and two other ADF personnel have been wounded in Afghanistan.
Immediate first aid was provided to the three soldiers wounded in the firefight.
Special Forces was working with the Afghan Provincial Response Company on an
operation to disrupt an insurgent network known to have direct influences on insurgent activity in Uruzgan province.
Another Special Forces soldier also was shot and seriously wounded while a Royal Australian Air Force airman received minor injuries. Both were being treated at bases in Afghanistan.
Australian Defence Force chief General David Hurley said the deceased soldier, based in Sydney's 2nd Commando Regiment, was described by his colleagues as "one of the most iconic figures" in the regiment.
Meet the Press, Ep18, Seg 1
It was his fifth tour of Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq and East Timor.
General Hurley said frantic efforts by his colleagues to administer first aid were unsuccessful.
"This man was a decorated soldier," General Hurley said.
"In combat and as a team commander, he was the man to watch and was never happier than when the situation demanded decisive action and courage."
His name has not been released yet as his family have requested privacy.
Ms Gillard said "every death, every loss" in Afghanistan hit the nation hard but noted the longer time period since the last death.
Corporal Scott Smith, of the Special Operations Engineer Regiment, was killed after an improvised explosive device on October 21, last year.
"I think many had probably lulled themselves into a false sense of security that we would see no more losses in Afghanistan," the PM said.
"This news reminds us that the mission in ongoing, that the danger is ongoing."
Defence said an inquiry officer would examine the circumstances surrounding the death. More than 250 Australians have been wounded in Afghanistan.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott also extended his condolences to the affected family.
"Their work in Afghanistan is about making the world a safer place, so that it never again becomes a base for international terror," he said.
"The death of this soldier is a reminder of the service and sacrifice of the ADF."
General Hurley said it was an indication the war in Afghanistan was not over yet.
"This particular missions still has 18 months to go to the end of next year,'' he said.
"We share their loss and we feel their pain, and we will support them through the difficult days ahead.
"My thoughts and prayers are also with our wounded personnel and their families. I wish them a speedy recovery."
KILLED IN ACTION
There have been 40 operational deaths in Afghanistan.
Soldiers killed in action are:
- Sergeant Andrew Russell, SASR, died of wounds sustained when his patrol vehicle struck an anti-tank mine on 16 February 2002.
- Trooper David Pearce, 2/14 LHR QMI, was killed when his ASLAV was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device on 8 October 2007.
- Sergeant Matthew Locke, SASR, was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 25 October 2007.
- Private Luke Worsley, 4RAR (Cdo), was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 23 November 2007.
- Lance Corporal Jason Marks, 4RAR (Cdo), was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 27 April 2008.
- Signaller Sean McCarthy, SASR, was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device on 8 July 2008.
- Lieutenant Michael Fussell, 4RAR (Cdo), was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device during a dismounted patrol on 27 November 2008.
- Private Gregory Sher, 1st Commando Regiment, was killed in a rocket attack on 4 January 2009.
- Corporal Mathew Hopkins, 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, was killed during an engagement with the Taliban on 16 March 2009.
- Sergeant Brett Till, Incident Response Regiment, was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device during a route clearance task on the 19 March 2009.
- Private Benjamin Ranaudo, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device on 18 July 2009.
- Sapper Jacob Moerland, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 7 June 2010.
- Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment died of wounds sustained during an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 7 June 2010.
- Private Timothy Aplin, 2nd Commando Regiment died as a result of a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010.
- Private Scott Palmer, 2nd Commando Regiment died as a result of a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010.
- Private Benjamin Chuck, 2nd Commando Regiment died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010.
- Private Nathan Bewes, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device on 9 July 2010.
- Trooper Jason Brown, SASR, died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an engagement with insurgents on 13 August 2010.
- Private Tomas Dale, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 20 August 2010.
- Private Grant Kirby, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 20 August 2010.
- Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 24 August 2010.
- Corporal Richard Atkinson, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 2 February 2011.
- Sapper Jamie Larcombe, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 19 February 2011.
- Sergeant Brett Wood, MG, DSM, 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device during a dismounted patrol on 23 May 2011.
- Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, 9th Force Support Battalion, died of wounds as a result of a small-arms fire incident on 30 May 2011.
- Lieutenant Marcus Case, 6th Aviation Regiment, died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash on 30 May 2011.
- Sapper Rowan Robinson, Incident Response Regiment, died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an engagement with insurgents on 06 June 2011.
- Sergeant Todd Langley, 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 4 July 2011
- Private Matthew Lambert, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, died of wounds as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device strike on 22 August 2011.
- Captain Bryce Duffy, 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011.
- Corporal Ashley Birt, 6th Engineer Support Regiment, was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011.
- Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment died of wounds as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011.
- Sergeant Blaine Flower Diddams from the Special Air Service Regiment was killed during a small arms engagement with insurgents on 02 July 2012.
- Sapper James Martin, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012.
- Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI), was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012.
- Private Robert Poate, 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012.
- Private Nathanael Galagher, 2nd Commando Regiment was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012.
- Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald, 2nd Commando Regiment was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012.
- Corporal Scott Smith, Special Operations Engineer Regiment, was killed as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device on 21 October 2012.
- A 2nd Commando Regiment soldier was killed as a result of a small arms incident on 22 June 2013.
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