Aus forces heavily involved in Anaconda

Australian troops on patrol in southern Afghanistan

CANBERRA, Australia (CNN) -- Australian forces continue to be heavily involved in Operation Anaconda in eastern Afghanistan, including securing the southern flank of the battle area to prevent opposition forces from escaping.

In a media briefing Tuesday, Australian Defense spokesman Brigadier Paul Retter said Special Air Services (SAS) were providing "close observation of the enemy defensive positions" and developing "cut-offs to prevent the enemy forces from being withdrawn".

While conditions were difficult and dangerous, there had so far been no Australian casualties from Anaconda.

"Our forces continue to provide special reconnaissance and direct action support to US ground forces," Retter said.

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"They will continue to provide this type of support while coalition and Afghani forces maneuver to further exploit the successes of the past 10 days," he said.

About two-thirds of Australia's 150 SAS troops in Afghanistan are currently involved in Operation Anaconda.

Retter said the accuracy of the air strikes co-ordinated by the SAS was a considerable achievement given the very poor weather conditions in Afghanistan over the past few days.

Retter also said a senior Royal Australian Air Force officer was at the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan assisting with U.S. air strikes against al Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

Australian troops were last week heavily involved in the rescue of about 25 U.S. soldiers who had been pinned down by enemy fire following a helicopter crash that killed six soldiers.

Praise

Retter said the Anaconda troops were now preparing for the next phase of the operation, but said it was highly unlikely that Australian forces would be involved in the mop-up actions in the caves.

Australia's Brigadier Duncan Lewis said on Friday that there were about 2,000 coalition forces involved in Anaconda and that about half of approximately 1,000 al Qaeda and Taliban fighters might have been eliminated in the action up to that point.

The battle details come as U.S. president George W. Bush specifically praised the contribution of an Australian SAS soldier, recently killed in Afghanistan by a land mine, in a memorial address for September 11 victims.

"Last month Sergeant Andrew Russell of the Australian Special Air Service died in Afghanistan," Bush said.

"He left behind his wife Kylie and their daughter Lisa, just 11 days old. Friends said of Sergeant Russell, you could rely on him never to let you down.

"This young man and many like him have not let us down."

Broader support

The body of Sergeant Andrew Russell arrives back in Australia

Bush also referred to broader Australian support for the war on terror.

On the day before September the 11th, I met with Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, who spoke of the common beliefs and shared affection of our two countries," Bush said.

"We could not have known that bond was about to be proven again in war, and we could not have known its human cost."

Australia was one of the first countries to offer military support to the United States following the September 11 attacks.

Apart from 150 SAS forces, Australia has committed a further 1,400 armed forces personnel to the international coalition.

The armed forces contribution includes F/A-18 fighter aircraft, several navy frigates, a transport ship, long-range maritime patrol aircraft and refueling aircraft.