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5 Soldiers’ Deaths in Afghanistan Mark Australia’s Worst Toll Yet 5 Soldiers’ Deaths in Afghanistan Mark Australia’s Worst Toll Yet
(about 2 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Five Australian soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan within hours of each other, three of them at the hands of a turncoat Afghan soldier, making it the single worst period in a decade of fighting here for one of the United States’ staunchest allies. KABUL, Afghanistan — Five Australian soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan within hours of one another on Wednesday and Thursday, three of them at the hands of a turncoat Afghan soldier, making it the deadliest period in a decade of fighting here for one of the United States’ staunchest allies.
Two Australian soldiers died when their UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed in the Baghran district of Helmand Province on Thursday morning, NATO officials said. They said they did not know the cause of the crash, which injured other troops as well. Two soldiers died when their UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed in the Baghran district of Helmand Province on Thursday morning, NATO officials said. They said they did not know what caused the crash, which left other soldiers injured as well.
Three other Australian soldiers were killed Wednesday night when an Afghan soldier turned his gun on them in Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan, the latest in a rash of so-called insider attacks on coalition forces that have left 45 dead this year at the hands of the Afghan security forces or other Afghans working closely with them. Three other soldiers were killed on Wednesday night when an Afghan soldier turned his gun on them in Oruzgan Province, the latest in a rash of insider attacks on coalition forces that have left 45 dead this year at the hands of the Afghan security forces or other Afghans working with them.
The attack happened at a fuel depot when a member of the Afghan National Army shot the Australians and then fled the base, Colonel Messer said. The international force command said that the motive in the shooting was unclear and that it was investigating. The attack happened at a fuel depot when a member of the Afghan National Army shot the Australians and then fled the base, coalition officials said. The international force command said that the motive was unclear and that it was investigating.
With 1,550 troops in Afghanistan — most of them in Uruzgan — Australia’s is the largest non-NATO military presence in the American-led coalition fighting here. The only other Australian military fatality in Afghanistan this year was in July. Last year, Australia had 11 of its troops killed here, according to data from Icasualties.org, which tracks military fatalities. With 1,550 troops in Afghanistan — most of them in Oruzgan — Australia has the largest non-NATO military presence in the American-led coalition here. The only other Australian military fatality in Afghanistan this year was in July. Last year, 11 Australian service members were killed here, according to data from Icasualties.org.
The five new deaths stunned Australia. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called it “the most awful news” for the country.The five new deaths stunned Australia. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called it “the most awful news” for the country.
“This is a very big toll,” Ms. Gillard said during a visit to the Cook Islands, where she said she would cut her trip short to return to Canberra, the Australian capital. “This is our single worst day in Afghanistan.”“This is a very big toll,” Ms. Gillard said during a visit to the Cook Islands, where she said she would cut her trip short to return to Canberra, the Australian capital. “This is our single worst day in Afghanistan.”
She said insider attacks like the one that killed the three Australians were “corrosive of trust” and difficult to deal with.She said insider attacks like the one that killed the three Australians were “corrosive of trust” and difficult to deal with.
Earlier this year, Ms. Gillard announced that Australia would withdraw its troops by the end of 2013 — one year ahead of schedule — citing what she said were security improvements in Afghanistan while also acknowledging the unpopularity of the war. This year, Ms. Gillard announced that Australia would withdraw its troops by the end of 2013 — one year ahead of schedule — citing what she said were security improvements in Afghanistan, while also acknowledging the unpopularity of the war.
On Thursday, she vowed the five deaths would not alter that plan. “Our strategy is well-defined, our strategy is constant, and we cannot allow even the most grievous of losses to change our strategy,” she said. “We went there for a purpose, and we will see that purpose through.” On Thursday, she vowed that the five deaths would not alter that plan. “Our strategy is well defined, our strategy is constant, and we cannot allow even the most grievous of losses to change our strategy,” she said. “We went there for a purpose, and we will see that purpose through.”
The surge in insider attacks on coalition forces has increased tensions between NATO and the Afghan security forces at a crucial time in the training mission. NATO security forces are working closely with the Afghan Army and the police as Western troops prepare to withdraw from the country in 2014, but the killings complicate the cooperation. The surge in insider attacks has increased tensions between NATO and the Afghan security forces at a crucial time in the training mission. NATO security forces are working closely with the Afghan Army and the police as Western troops prepare to withdraw from the country in 2014, but the killings complicate the cooperation.
Neither NATO nor Afghan officials knew why the Afghan soldier had decided to turn his weapon on the Australian troops. Neither NATO nor Afghan officials said they knew why the Afghan soldier turned his weapon on the Australian soldiers.
“We don’t have any idea if he was an infiltrator, or if there was another reason for the shooting,” said Gen. Abdul Hamid Wardak, commander of the Afghan 205th Corps in Kandahar. He said the attack was carried out by a soldier from Ghazni Province named Hikmatullah who had joined the Afghan National Army five months ago. “We don’t have any idea if he was an infiltrator, or if there was another reason for the shooting,” said Gen. Abdul Hamid Wardak, commander of the Afghan 205th Corps in Kandahar. He said the attack was carried out by a soldier from Ghazni Province named Hikmatullah who had joined the Afghan Army five months ago.
According to General Wardak, the soldier was on duty at Camp Wahab in the Chora district of Uruzgan when a patrol of Australians came to the camp late Wednesday night. Then the Afghan soldier “opened fire on them, and as a result three Australian soldiers were killed and one was wounded.” He said the Afghan soldier dropped his weapon and ran from the base. According to General Wardak, the soldier was on duty at Camp Wahab in the Chora district of Oruzgan when a patrol of Australians went to the camp late Wednesday. The Afghan soldier then “opened fire on them, and as a result three Australian soldiers were killed and one was wounded.” He said the Afghan soldier dropped his weapon and ran from the base.
With the latest deaths, 15 members of the international coalition have been killed in insider attacks, also called green-on-blue attacks, this month alone, 12 of them American. With the latest deaths, 15 members of the international coalition have been killed in insider attacks this month, 12 of them American.
NATO officials blame about one in 10 of the recent wave of insider attacks on Taliban infiltrators posing as Afghan soldiers or police officers. A somewhat larger proportion, officials believe, is tied in some way to broader Taliban influence, like coercion. But most of the shootings are seen as stemming from cultural or personal disputes. NATO officials blame Taliban infiltrators posing as Afghan soldiers or police officers for about 1 in 10 of the recent insider attacks. A somewhat larger proportion, officials believe, is tied in some way to broader Taliban influence, like coercion. But most of the shootings are seen as stemming from cultural or personal disputes.

Richard A. Oppel Jr. reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Matt Siegel from Sydney, Australia. Graham Bowley contributed reporting from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar.

Richard A. Oppel Jr. reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Matt Siegel from Sydney, Australia. Graham Bowley contributed reporting from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar.