Introduction

FOB Mashal used by Australian elements. AKA Combat Out Post Mashal.

An Afghan National Army soldier scans over the valley as he provides protection from an observation tower at Combat Out Post Mashal.
Source: Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams in Chora Valley, Image Galleries 2009, Operation Slipper, Department of Defence, 7 April 2009

Caption: Locaties van de forward operating bases Khyber, Qudus, Mashal en Locke én van de White Compound in Chora (in het oord Ali Shirzai).
Source: De Volksrant, 17 January 2009

Source: Chora District, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, AIMS,

Government sources

Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force member killed on operations in Afghanistan, Department of Defence, 18 July 2009

An Australian soldier serving with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan was killed while on operations north of Tarin Kowt yesterday morning, Saturday, Afghanistan time. The soldier was killed when an anti-personnel explosive device exploded. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said the incident occurred during an operation against a compound of interest in the Baluchi Valley.

Death of Australian Soldier on Operations in Afghanistan, Chief of Defence Force and Minister for Defence press conference, MSPA 90719/09, 19 July 2009

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ANGUS HOUSTON: Unfortunately, this morning, I’m here to announce that yesterday an Australian soldier serving with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan was killed by an antipersonnel explosive device in the Baluchi Valley. A second Australian soldier was seriously wounded in the explosion along with three Afghan civilians who were also injured, one of whom is believed to be an 8-year-old boy. This incident occurred during an operation against a compound of interest.

QUESTION: CDF, can you tell us anything about the location of this incident, relative to Tarin Kowt?

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ANGUS HOUSTON: It is about 25km to the north of Tarin Kowt in the Baluchi Valley, very close to one of our operating buses up there.

QUESTION: What is the name of that operating base, by the way?

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ANGUS HOUSTON: COP [Combat Out Post] Mashal.

Patrolling Baluchi Valley, Image Galleries 2009, Operation Slipper, Department of Defence, 7 April 2009

The Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) based in the northern Baluchi Valley continues to work closely with their Afghan National Army partners. The soldiers who share the newly constructed Combat Out Post Mashal regularly patrol the area, denying insurgent freedom of movement. Missions regularly involve cordon and search operations, where the soldiers conduct patrols in the rural green zone and conduct ANA-led searches of Qualas of interest. Qualas are the mud brick, walled compounds that local national families call home. The searches are conducted to find weapons and explosive caches that insurgents stockpile, which they will use to target Coalition and Afghan Security Forces at a later date. Responsive to local customs and sensitivities, the searches are conducted and led by the Afghan soldiers, who are supported by their Australian mentors. When specialist capabilities are required, Australian engineers will be called forward to bring their capabilities to bear in the search for insurgent weapons.

Periodiek overzicht Afghanistan (video), Ministrie van Defensie, 12 February 2009

Analysis

Afghanistan’s valley of the shadow of death, Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2009-07-20

Lokale tijd Uruzgan, Uruzgan, Boejke Pienter – De ‘Way of life’ van de militair

Patrouilles in de Baluchi, Alfakrant, Uruzgan edition, Februari 2009 ed. 4

Grote schoonveegactie Baluchivallei, Noël van Bemmel, De Volksrant, 17 January 2009.

See also