Three Australian special forces soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan during an operation resulting in the deaths of a number of insurgents, including a senior commander.
Defence on Friday released details of the operation in Uruzgan province last week, when Australian soldiers joined Afghan National Security Forces to fend off a heavy, prolonged insurgent attack.
The trio sustained "minor fragmentation wounds" and were treated at the scene before returning to Tarin Kot base for further care.
One soldier was taken to a Kandahar medical facility for follow-up treatment, but all three are expected to make a full recovery and return to duties, a Defence statement said.
"At the time the entire force element was receiving heavy small arms fire, it was a situation that could have easily escalated," the Australian unit's commanding officer said in the statement.
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Despite the injuries, the mission continued and resulted in the killing of numerous insurgent fighters along with the mid-level commander, believed responsible for the supply of weapons and ammunition to dissidents.
