The Australian Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan

Australian Special Forces were deployed to Afghanistan in December 2001.

28th December saw members of the SASR join US Special Forces for a three day assault on an al-Qaeda training facility located in Southern Afghanistan. The Australian SAS were largely responsible for planning, initial reconnaissance and surveillance of the site. The site was later found uninhabited and a search of the compound, caves and tunnel networks found documents relating to terrorist activities and large stocks of ammunition and explosives.

On 16th February, Sergeant Andrew Russell was killed by a landmine while on patrol late at night. Another SAS soldier, Christian Salvatore, suffered a serious foot injury from a landmine in another incident.

The plan was for Coalition forces to attack the enemy in the Shah-i-Kot valley with a multiple prong attack originating from Gardez, Zurmat and Shah-i-Kot with Allied Afghan forces blocking suspected escape routes in the far east of the valley, near Khost and in the south near Paktika.

On 2nd March, al-Qaeda fighters and Taliban militia had suspected a Coalition assault on the Shah-I-Kot and had fled into the mountains nearby, as Coalition troops moved in by helicopter they came under heavy fire in virtually coverless terrain save for a dry creek bed. The soldiers hit the ground running and quickly dug in there, exchanging fire with the enemy fighters positioned opposite the creek on a ridge line. By the end of the afternoon a large number of wounded were packed in the creek bed.

Despite Allied air support and B-52s hammering the enemy positions, they continued to fire on the Allied troops and later in the evening US Air Force AC-130 Spectre gunships arrived to provide fire support. The two SASR liaison officers and their American company endured for 12 hours losing 30 men wounded before they were evacuated.

On 4th March 2002, A US Special Forces team was being inserted by helicopters in the south of the battle area of Operation Anaconda. The helicopters came under fire and were forced to abort their landing, one soldier fell from the aircraft and was later found to have been killed.

A quick reaction force was sent in to attempt to recover the missing soldier two hours later. One of the two helicopters involved in the recovery was also brought down by enemy fire and six US soldiers were killed and many injured in the crash.

al-Qaeda fighters surrounded the downed aircraft and it's survivors and a fierce battle ensued throughout the day. Australian SASR soldiers in an observation post nearby co-ordinated Coalition air strikes to prevent the al-Qaeda fighters from overrunning the downed aircraft. The 36 survivors, including 11 wounded, were successfully evacuated after night fall.

Operation Anaconda was originally intended to last for two days, but it lasted for fourteen days with the SASR engaged throughout the operation conducting reconnaissance and directing air strikes.

The SASR were tasked to gather intelligence on suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants in the area. Operating in four to six-man patrols, in an area thought to be regularly used by enemy personnel. One patrol was discovered on 30th April 2002 by an enemy groups and probably killed two of the enemy before being extracted. A 200-stong force from the US 101st Airborne Division conducted follow-up searches of the area with no contact.

Another SASR patrol ran into trouble on 1st May, resulting in a firefight and the patrol withdrew after inflicting casualties on the enemy. After this Operation Mountain Lion continued with little action in general to its conclusion.

Following Mountain Lion, SASR patrols continued to perform reconnaissance in Afghanistan by foot and in vehicles supported by Coalition air power.

The commander of the Australian Special Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tink was awarded the US Bronze Star for the Special Forces outstanding contribution to the war on terrorism. Sergeant Matthew Bouillaut was awarded the Australian Distinguished Service Medal.

In November 2002, the first Australian SAS troops began to return to Australia.