2016 20c Coin 'Anzac to Afghanistan' - AFGHANISTAN

2016 20c Coin 'Anzac to Afghanistan' - AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan is the longest conflict in Australia's military history. In the 14 years since SAS squadrons were first deployed to Afghanistan in late 2001, an estimated 25,000 Australian Defence Force personnel have served in the greater Middle East Area of Operations under the auspices of Operation Slipper. The mission came to an end in December 2014.

Following the multiple terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001, US President George W. Bush declared a “war on terror”. In October 2001, coalition forces under US leadership invaded Afghanistan and ejected the ruling Taliban regime. Australian SAS squadrons formed part of this military effort under the auspices of Operation Slipper, conducting surveillance in the mountainous regions south of Kabul. The war ended inconclusively in mid-2002, and Australian troop numbers declined when the international focus turned to Iraq in 2003. Australian troops returned to Afghanistan in 2006, to help bring security to the country by supporting the new democratically elected Afghan government. By 2010 the mission evolved from reconstruction to mentoring Afghan army and police units, equipping them with the means to carry out counter-insurgency operations in Uruzgan province.