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Final Australian troops leave Afghanistan as 20-year mission draws to a close
30 June 2021
Exclusive by defence correspondent Andrew Green
Australian military have been deployed to Afghanistan for two decades.(Defence Department: Tristan Kennedy)
Australia has completed its formal troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending an almost 20-year military commitment to the war-torn country that claimed 41 ADF members' lives.
Key points:
The recent departure of Australia's final Defence personnel comes amid reports American troops could complete their exit "within days", and as Taliban fighters continue to retake districts across Afghanistan.
Since 2001 the Australian Defence Force's mission has been to "contain the threat from international terrorism", firstly under Operation Slipper, and then Operation Highroad.
According to the Defence Department's website, Australia currently contributes "around 80 Defence personnel" to NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. They are involved in training, advising and assisting local forces.
However military sources have confirmed to the ABC the last remaining ADF members flew out of Kabul in the middle of June, ahead of a September 11 deadline announced by the United States for the withdrawal of all coalition forces.
"Operation Highroad is done and dusted, but Operation Accordion (the overarching mission in the Middle East) will remain because it has been identified that we still need a staging point in the sandpit," another official said.
United States media reports suggest American troops could complete their withdrawal, or retrograde, "within days" after President Joe Biden outlined an exit strategy in April.
The Australian Defence Department has so far declined to publicly confirm the formal end of its NATO-led mission to Afghanistan or say whether some military personnel will relocate elsewhere in the Middle East.
"On 15 April the Prime Minister announced Australia would finalise the drawdown of our contribution to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan," a Defence spokesperson told the ABC.
"As Australia brings its contribution in Afghanistan to a close, the Minister for Defence will be delivering remarks on Australia's role in the days ahead".
"For operational security reasons, we will not provide further details at this time," the spokesperson added.
Australian troops left Afghanistan as the United States nears the end of its deployment.(Defence Department: Tristan Kennedy)
At the end of May, Australia became the first country involved in coalition military activity to not only announce military withdrawal by September but the full retreat on its foreign presence, by closing its embassy.
In recent weeks fighting has intensified between Taliban militants and Afghan forces, with many government-held districts falling into the hands of the former enemy.
Uruzgan, where Australian troops served for close to a decade, could be the first entire province to fall back under Taliban control as foreign militaries withdraw from the war-torn country.
The former chief of army, retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, said the formal departure of Australia's last troops was an enormously significant occasion.
"It signifies the end of an era for the ADF, I think we've all known that it's been coming for a long time but it's no easier to accept now that it's here," he said.
"I find it as an occasion to reflect and remember, and some of the reflections and remembrances are not easy."
Lieutenant General Leahy said his thoughts were particularly with the families of the 41 Australian soldiers who died in the conflict, as well as the many others who suffered physical and mental injuries from their service.
Germany, which had the second largest contingent of troops after the United States in Afghanistan, announced on Tuesday that it had concluded its withdrawal from the nation.
www.abc.net.au
30 June 2021
Exclusive by defence correspondent Andrew Green
Australian military have been deployed to Afghanistan for two decades.(Defence Department: Tristan Kennedy)
Australia has completed its formal troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending an almost 20-year military commitment to the war-torn country that claimed 41 ADF members' lives.
Key points:
- Australia's departure comes ahead of the United States withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan
- Australia has had around 80 Defence personnel in the country until recently
- Thousands of Australians were deployed to Afghanistan over the 20-year mission
The recent departure of Australia's final Defence personnel comes amid reports American troops could complete their exit "within days", and as Taliban fighters continue to retake districts across Afghanistan.
Since 2001 the Australian Defence Force's mission has been to "contain the threat from international terrorism", firstly under Operation Slipper, and then Operation Highroad.
According to the Defence Department's website, Australia currently contributes "around 80 Defence personnel" to NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. They are involved in training, advising and assisting local forces.
However military sources have confirmed to the ABC the last remaining ADF members flew out of Kabul in the middle of June, ahead of a September 11 deadline announced by the United States for the withdrawal of all coalition forces.
"September 11 was the timeframe given, but everyone is rushing for the door," one Defence official told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
"Operation Highroad is done and dusted, but Operation Accordion (the overarching mission in the Middle East) will remain because it has been identified that we still need a staging point in the sandpit," another official said.
United States media reports suggest American troops could complete their withdrawal, or retrograde, "within days" after President Joe Biden outlined an exit strategy in April.
The Australian Defence Department has so far declined to publicly confirm the formal end of its NATO-led mission to Afghanistan or say whether some military personnel will relocate elsewhere in the Middle East.
"On 15 April the Prime Minister announced Australia would finalise the drawdown of our contribution to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan," a Defence spokesperson told the ABC.
"As Australia brings its contribution in Afghanistan to a close, the Minister for Defence will be delivering remarks on Australia's role in the days ahead".
"For operational security reasons, we will not provide further details at this time," the spokesperson added.
Australian troops left Afghanistan as the United States nears the end of its deployment.(Defence Department: Tristan Kennedy)
At the end of May, Australia became the first country involved in coalition military activity to not only announce military withdrawal by September but the full retreat on its foreign presence, by closing its embassy.
In recent weeks fighting has intensified between Taliban militants and Afghan forces, with many government-held districts falling into the hands of the former enemy.
Uruzgan, where Australian troops served for close to a decade, could be the first entire province to fall back under Taliban control as foreign militaries withdraw from the war-torn country.
The former chief of army, retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, said the formal departure of Australia's last troops was an enormously significant occasion.
"It signifies the end of an era for the ADF, I think we've all known that it's been coming for a long time but it's no easier to accept now that it's here," he said.
"I find it as an occasion to reflect and remember, and some of the reflections and remembrances are not easy."
Lieutenant General Leahy said his thoughts were particularly with the families of the 41 Australian soldiers who died in the conflict, as well as the many others who suffered physical and mental injuries from their service.
"Was it worth it? Well as we face the prospect of a savage retribution by the now ascendant Taliban, and I think a return in some ways to the dark ages for Afghanistan — it's really hard to say that it was worth it," he said.
Germany, which had the second largest contingent of troops after the United States in Afghanistan, announced on Tuesday that it had concluded its withdrawal from the nation.
'It's really hard to say it was worth it': Final Australian troops leave Afghanistan, 20 years after mission began
The recent departure of Australia's final defence personnel comes amid reports American troops could complete their exit "within days", even as Taliban fighters continue to retake districts across Afghanistan.
www.abc.net.au
