Two Australian soldiers have been wounded in action in Afghanistan and one is in a serious condition, Australian Defense Force confirmed on Monday, Xinhua reported.
According to Australia Associated Press, Defense Force said the soldiers, from the Mentoring Task Force (MTF-2), were hurt in separate IED (improvised explosive device) blasts in the Baluchi Valley region of Oruzgan province on Sunday.
He was treated at the scene then evacuated by helicopter to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medical facility at Tarin Kowt, before being transported to the medical facility in Kandahar for further treatment. The soldier was in a serious condition.
The other incident involved an IED strike on a Bushmaster armoured vehicle.
The wounded soldier was treated at the scene for suspected internal injuries. He was then flown by helicopter to the ISAF medical facility at Tarin Kowt. A scan revealed no significant injuries and he is now classed as being in a satisfactory condition.
According to Australian Middle East commander Major General John Cantwell, there had been significant gains in finding and destroying many IEDs and munitions caches but insurgents continued to target Afghan and ISAF patrols with no regard for innocent local people.
"In each of today's incidents, the soldiers were quickly attended to by their mates in the field and are being cared for in the ISAF medical facility in Kandahar," he said in a statement released on Monday, adding that the families of both soldiers have been notified.
So far this year, 62 Australian soldiers have been wounded in action in Afghanistan. Since Australia started operations in Afghanistan, 162 soldiers have been wounded.