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Photographer: LS Paul Berry

Caption:
Weapons cache from OP Boston.

Mid Caption:
OP SUR GURABE (BOSTON)

Operation Sur Gurabe (Boston) is an Afghan National Army led operation to clear insurgents from West Dorafshan, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.  The operation commenced on 10 Nov and will continue in different phases over the next few months. 

The initial ‘Clear’ phase was a success with the Afghan National Army patrols leading the way with their Australian mentors from Darwin’s 2nd Mentoring Task Force to ensure the insurgents no longer had a foothold in West Dorafshan. 

“This area was famous for being dangerous, but now we have come here – the ANA and the Australians to change the security for the future,” said Sergeant Rahmatullah, Engineer Company, 4th Combat Support Kandak.

The second ‘Build’ phase is currently occurring with the construction of an Afghan National Army compound.  This compound will enable elements from the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police to maintain security in West Dorafshan.

The operation to date has located seventy weapons caches, including a highly valuable 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher and enough explosives and IED components to have potentially saved hundreds of Afghan lives.  According to LTCOL Darren Huxley, Commanding Officer, 2nd Mentoring Task Force “Every bit of this cache could make a bomb.  Each bomb can kill a local.  By locating these caches, we are making a big difference to security in Uruzgan.”

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