Australians serving during war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021

On 11 October 2026, DVA will hold a national commemoration to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan 2001–2021. The service will be held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and broadcast nationally. Register your interest in attending.

Strategic context

Afghanistan has a rich cultural heritage and significant ethnic, linguistic and social diversity. Its history has also been shaped by years of conflict, foreign intervention and political instability.

The Soviet–Afghan War that started in 1979 contributed to a prolonged period of civil conflict. That conflict led to the rise of the Taliban, a fundamentalist Muslim movement.

By the late 1990s, the Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan. They also provided sanctuary to al-Qa’ida, a Sunni-Islamist militant organisation. International concern about al-Qa’ida increased after terrorist attacks against United States (US) embassies and military personnel.

The war in Afghanistan aimed to dismantle al-Qa’ida's terrorist network. This was in response to the September 11 (9/11) attacks in the US in 2001. It developed into a protracted conflict.

Australian and coalition forces took part in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. They also contributed to nation-building, reconstruction, mentoring and training missions.

Australia’s involvement

Australian operations extended beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Personnel also served in the wider MEAO.
Australia’s military commitment included ADF personnel from all 3 services:

• Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
• Australian Army
• Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The wider commitment from Australia included civilians from government bodies and NGOs, such as:

• Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), including AusAID
• Department of Home Affairs
• Australian Red Cross.

Everyone involved made vital contributions from locations in and outside of Afghanistan.

Early years 2001 to 2004

Many people can vividly recall where they were when they first heard news of the 9/11 attacks. The attacks had a profound impact worldwide. Almost 3,000 people from more than 80 countries lost their lives, including 10 Australians.

The day after 9/11, the United Nations (UN) Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 1368, condemning the attacks on the US.

Shortly afterwards, US president George W Bush declared a ‘War on Terror’. The US established a coalition of nations united by the common goal of combating terrorism.

On 14 September, Australia invoked the ANZUS Treaty (Australia, New Zealand and the United States Security Treaty). This was the first and only time the treaty has been activated.

On 7 October 2001, US forces commenced military operations against the Taliban and al-Qa’ida. They invaded Afghanistan with support from the Afghan Northern Alliance. The US operation was known as Operation Enduring Freedom.

Several other countries, including Australia, soon began contributing to the military effort.

Operation Slipper

The ADF established Operation Slipper on 11 October 2001. It was  Australia’s first military operation of the war in Afghanistan.

On 25 October 2001, in an address to the Australian Defence Association, prime minister John Howard announced the operation and said:

If we left this contest only to America, we would be leaving it to them to defend our rights and those of all the other people of the world who have a commitment to freedom and liberty.

Howard went on to emphasise Australia’s commitment to ANZUS and to the war in Afghanistan.

ADF deployments under Operation Slipper comprised members of all 3 armed services.

Royal Australian Navy

Although Afghanistan is a landlocked country, RAN personnel were crucial to coalition operations. Everyone from technicians and intelligence officers to chefs and medics contributed.

HMAS Anzac, operating in the Persian Gulf, was quickly reassigned to Operation Slipper.

RAN personnel soon began providing intelligence and logistics support, then supporting ground forces.

The RAN has remained in the MEAO with key roles in maritime security since the early 1990s. They supported counter-piracy, counter-smuggling and counterterrorism operations.

Australian Army

Under Operation Slipper, the ADF deployed the Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) on 22 October 2001.

Australia's first land force contingent had about 150 personnel, mainly from the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Family, friends and political leaders farewelled the troops at Campbell Barracks in Perth.

The deployment marked the start of Australia's military contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT).

SFTG personnel joined and supported coalition forces. They took part in patrols, raids, skirmishes and ambushes to ‘drive the Taliban and al-Qa’ida forces from their strongholds.’

The SASR rotations to the SFTG in Afghanistan included:

• 1SAS Squadron Group from October 2001 to April 2002
• 3SAS Squadron Group from April 2002 to August 2002
• 2SAS Squadron Group from August 2002 to November 2002.

Royal Australian Air Force

Four F/A-18 Hornets and about 70 personnel from No 77 Squadron RAAF deployed on 9 November 2001. They deployed to the US Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia to conduct combat air patrols. Diego Garcia is a small but strategically important island in the Indian Ocean.

Then from March to December 2002, 2 aerial refuelling tankers detached from No 33 Squadron RAAF and deployed to Ganci Air Base outside Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.

Both deployments included aircrew and ground personnel.

The RAAF remained involved in the war at varying levels until the 2021 evacuations of Kabul.

International Security Assistance Force

By December 2001, coalition forces had pushed al-Qa’ida and the Taliban out of many cities and villages throughout Afghanistan. That month, UNSC formalised a multinational coalition.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) aimed to:

• provide security across the country
• begin developing an Afghan security force
• rebuild local infrastructure.

Over 50 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and partner states, including Australia, contributed to ISAF between 2001 and 2014.

ADF personnel took part in ISAF operations under Operation Slipper.

At times, ADF personnel were embedded with (or seconded to) NATO or other coalition-led operations, including:

• Operation Ariki (New Zealand) 2001 to 2014
• Operation Athena (Canada)
• Operation Herrick (United Kingdom)
• Operation Enduring Freedom (US) 2001 to 2014.

Dangers of operational service

Coalition forces achieved several operational successes between October and December 2001.

As objectives evolved during the war, personnel were constantly alert for danger, especially in high-intensity combat situations.

Australian and coalition forces continued to undertake patrols and raids. Personnel operated in a constant state of vigilance because members of the Taliban and al-Qa’ida often dressed like civilians. Recognising armed militants was made difficult by the presence of firearms among the wider Afghan population.

The use of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was an ongoing threat to the safety of everyone in Afghanistan. IEDs were dangerous, often crudely made, explosives that were first used in Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Australia's first fatal casualty

While the IED threat was well known to those serving in Afghanistan, Australians at home began to understand the danger in 2002.

In February 2002, news outlets reported a vehicle carrying 5 Australian personnel had hit a presumed anti-vehicle mine. The vehicle had been on patrol near Kandahar.

Sergeant Andrew Russell, SASR, died as a result of the explosion. He was the first of many Australians to lose their lives from serving in the war.

Shift in focus

After 12 months, the Taliban and al-Qa’ida appeared to have been largely defeated in Afghanistan.

In late November 2002, Australia announced that the third rotation of the SFTG would begin to withdraw from Afghanistan. Defence minister Robert Hill noted, ‘the focus of the operations had moved towards supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan’.

Additionally, the US began turning its attention to the conflict in nearby Iraq.

Peacekeeping mission

In 2002, the UNSC established the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The mission would support the Afghan people and interim authorities through:

• political transition
• humanitarian coordination
• reconstruction efforts.

Australians contributed to UNAMA through:

• Operation Palate from April 2003 to July 2004
• Operation Palate II from June 2005 to March 2017.

Australian Army personnel were assigned to both UNAMA and the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA).

Long war 2005 to 2013

By 2005, the Taliban was resurgent. In response, the ADF renewed its military commitment to Afghanistan by deploying another SFTG rotation. This contingent included personnel from:

• Special Operations Command
• logistics support
• an army aviation detachment, which arrived later.

Although Australians had been serving in Afghanistan since 2001, newly arriving personnel continued to be amazed by the country’s diversity. Those on the ground were struck by the expansive desert and snowcapped mountains. Others remarked on Kabul’s buzzing energy.

Many on deployment sought to better understand local communities, customs and cultures. Their understanding of Afghanistan deepened with help from interpreters and other local staff.

Locally employed Afghans did far more than translate words for coalition forces. They provided a more nuanced understanding of local culture and knowledge. This afforded Australians insight into how the Taliban gained a stronghold in the country. It also helped personnel perform their roles more effectively.

Searches and engagements

Searches and engagements often took place in and around brick and mud-walled compounds. These places were home to civilian families, including women and children, but could also shelter enemy fighters. Troops found it difficult to fight in the compounds and learned to navigate each mission carefully.

Female personnel became particularly important in these situations. They could interact with local women and children and enter segregated spaces where men were not welcome.

From about 2005, the STFG used specially trained combat assault and explosive detection dogs in Afghanistan. These well-trained dogs saved many lives. Several of these dogs received the Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award for outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty.

Reconstruction efforts

Alongside combat operations, reconstruction became a growing focus.

Australians from the ADF, government bodies and NGOs undertook humanitarian projects, such as:

• building government facilities
• improving agricultural infrastructure
• improving roads.

The Australian Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) deployed in September 2006 as part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Uruzgan.

The RTF included combat engineers and tradesmen who built infrastructure and Afghan capacity, while infantry and other troops protected that work in combat environments. The RFT personnel were based outside Tarin Kowt (also spelt Tarin Kot or Tarinkot).

After RTF-4 deployed in 2008, the mission shifted from reconstruction to training and mentoring.

Mentoring local people

Mentoring became increasingly important in ADF and other deployments.

From early 2009, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs) were embedded in the Afghan National Army. They helped train and mentor Afghan forces.

Mentoring extended across levels, including senior leadership. It also extended across government staff and NGOs responsible for:

• security
• regional development
• governance.

Between 2008 and 2010, AFP members deployed under their own mentoring operations to train Afghan police.

Many female ADF and AFP personnel made culturally sensitive contact with Afghan women, contributing to the success of these engagements.

For many Australians, working collaboratively with Afghan forces was a highlight of their service.

Continuing RAN commitments

A wide range of other military and non-military elements were integral to the war in Afghanistan.

Naval personnel contributed to land-based operations, as well as maritime patrols in the wider MEAO.

RAN clearance divers deployed alongside their Army colleagues. They specialised in disposing of munitions and making roads safer by disarming IEDs.

Navy medics joined teams treating the wounded. Cross-service and inter-coalition medical teams worked together. Their job was to ensure those wounded received rapid response and medical care. Some battlefield evacuations were completed within 15 minutes.

Continuing RAAF commitments

RAAF mobile control and reporting personnel played a crucial role. They managed an increasingly busy military and civilian airspace over Afghanistan.

RAAF units also contributed to intelligence to inform coalition objectives. This work used crewed and remotely piloted aircraft for monitoring and surveillance.

Airfield defence guards contributed to force protection in and around the Tarin Kowt base. RAAF responsibilities extended to logistical support and aeromedical evacuations. This required working with other ADF personnel to airlift supplies and personnel.

Other commitments

Australia’s ‘whole-of-government’ approach was essential to its mission in Afghanistan. Civilians from DFAT and other agencies engaged directly with:

• Afghan government officials
• provincial and district leaders
• tribal elders
• village communities.

Three NGOs provided much-needed recreation and support services for ADF personnel on bases:

• Salvation Army Red Shield Defence Services
• Australian Red Cross
• Everyman’s Welfare Service.

Personal risks to safety

Everyone in Afghanistan had to contend with the dangers associated with insurgent warfare. Australians and coalition forces deployed to the wider MEAO also faced threats.

Threats to personal safety included:

• conventional combat
• the use of mines and IEDs
• accidents, including helicopter crashes
• ‘green on blue’ attacks (carried out by members of – or people wearing the uniform of – the Afghan National Army or Afghan National Police).

All these dangers claimed the lives of Australians serving in Afghanistan.

At times, unarmed civilian staff were left at coalition bases to engage directly with local groups. These engagements occurred in potentially dangerous environments. This often-overlooked work helped build trust and cooperation with local communities. It also helped create the conditions to pursue security, development and governance objectives.

Amid such dangers, veterans recalled many courageous stories of service. Many personnel went above and beyond their duty to protect friends, military colleagues and the Afghan people.

Afghanistan veteran Chris May returned from Afghanistan wounded after an IED explosion on his second deployment.

Afghanistan veteran Phillip Thompson overcame severe injuries from an IED to become a champion for veterans' employment, health and wellbeing. After being named Young Queenslander of the Year in 2017, Phillip said:

I want to show the world and other young veterans that we're not defined by our injuries. We're defined by our actions.

Advise and assist from 2013 to 2021

In the 2010s, Afghan security and police forces took on greater responsibilities. This coincided with a decrease in ISAF’s personnel strength.

In 2012, it was announced that the ISAF mandate would end by December 2014. Across the next 2 years, Australian deployments to Afghanistan steadily decreased.

By mid-2014, maritime support of the war in Afghanistan moved from Operation Slipper to the new Operation Manitou.

Logistical support for Afghanistan operating out of the MEAO was subsumed into the new Operation Accordion.

Both operations supported ongoing conflicts in the region, including Afghanistan.

The ISAF mandate, under NATO leadership since August 2003, concluded in December 2014. With this, Australia’s Operation Slipper was officially complete.

Resolute Support Mission

The completion of Operation Slipper and the official end of the multinational ISAF did not end war and conflict in Afghanistan.

At the Afghan Government’s request, NATO established the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) on 1 January 2015.

Aligned with UNSC's Resolution 2189, RSM was officially a non-combat mission, unlike ISAF.

The new coalition focused on helping Afghan security forces and national institutions that were still engaged in war against the Taliban. RSM personnel provided support, training, advice and assistance.

At its peak, RSM involved more than 39 nations who continued their mentoring and humanitarian support in Afghanistan.

Australia’s post-2015 operations

Between 2015 and 2021, Australians continued to deploy to operations in Afghanistan and the MEAO.

ADF personnel served under:

• Operation Accordion from July 2014 (headquarters and logistics support in Gulf state bases)
• Operation Augury from July 2014 (to counter terrorism and violent extremist organisations around the world)
• Operation Manitou from July 2014 (naval and air maritime operations in the wider MEAO)
• Operation Highroad from January 2015 to October 2021 (contribution to RSM).

Some Australians continued to support UNAMA through Operation Palate II until 2017. UNAMA was not tied to ISAF’s completion or the establishment of the RSM.

Operations after 2015 were more focused on strengthening Afghan forces. These operations aimed to help the country maintain its own defence and security.

Local expertise proved an important part of non-combatant missions. Culturally informed collaboration had positive personal and professional outcomes.

Many Australians remarked on the local hospitality during and after service. Some fondly reflected on how sharing a cup of tea was the cornerstone of a strong working relationship with local forces.

I joined when I was 19 years old and trying to work out what I wanted to do in the world. I saw the military as a great option for providing service to the nation and something a lot bigger than myself as an individual … A big highlight was my deployment to Afghanistan, working in a patrol base and working very closely with the Afghan National Army and helping those guys to form their teams and learn from a world-class army on how to conduct operations to provide security and protection within their own valleys and regions. I found that an absolutely fascinating experience and learnt a lot from those gentlemen.

[Afghanistan veteran Jason Johnson, 'Thank You For Your Service' photographic exhibition, 2019.]

As part of these operations, Australians took on a variety of roles, including:

• mentoring
• operational planning
• intelligence
• logistics
• medical support.

Australians who deployed after 2015 faced the same threats as earlier coalition forces. This included the dangers associated with IEDs.

Australia’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) provided critical protection for Australians in mentoring and support roles. This included those based at the UK-led Afghan National Army Officer Academy at Camp Qargha in Kabul. QRF members were called the ‘Guardian Angels’ because they could operate effectively in high-intensity, life-threatening situations.

The number of Australian personnel involved in RSM operations peaked in 2019.

Afghanistan in 2020 and 2021

In February 2020, the US and the Taliban began to undertake peace talks that negotiated the withdrawal of RSM forces.

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared global in early 2020, made the closing years of operations and support for Afghanistan more complex. Support elements faced new pandemic-related challenges, including fewer in-country resources.

Despite limited respite, those contributing to operations in Afghanistan showed resilience and tenacity while working through pandemic uncertainty.

Diplomatic negotiations between the US and the Taliban led to a conditional timeline for foreign forces to exit the region.

These efforts culminated in a US–Taliban deal in 2020. The deal stipulated the withdrawal of all foreign coalition troops from Afghanistan by 2021.

On 15 April 2021, prime minister Scott Morrison announced the return of the remaining forces deployed on Operation Highroad. This marked almost 20 years of service in Afghanistan through war and conflict.

Some ADF personnel who were deployed under Operations Manitou, Accordion and Augury remained in the MEAO. Although not specifically deployed to Afghanistan, they were prepared to respond if needed.

Kabul airlift 2021

Coalition forces requested assistance from Australians deployed under Operation Accordion in August 2021.

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban declared victory and the war ended. That month, the Taliban neared and eventually took over Kabul. During the takeover, large numbers of Afghans and other civilians rushed to the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

In response to the turmoil, the US initiated and led Operation Allies Refuge. This was a multinational non-combatant evacuation operation.

The ‘Kabul airlift’ sought to evacuate approved foreign and Afghan nationals. This included some who had worked with coalition forces. Several coalition countries, including Australia, contributed to the evacuation.

At short notice, RAAF personnel and the Army’s ready combat team deployed under Operation Accordion. They worked with civilians from DFAT and the Department of Home Affairs to evacuate Australian citizens and foreign nationals from Kabul airport.

From 18 to 26 August, the whole-of-government operation evacuated some 4,100 people across 32 evacuation flights.

Overcrowded airspace and the mountainous terrain around Kabul made the mission more dangerous.

The US-led evacuation operation had ceased by the end of August 2021.

The airlift was a dangerous and distressing time for people in Afghanistan. It was also a difficult period for people in other parts of the world, especially those with personal connections to Afghanistan.

The decision to evacuate, and the events that followed, divided Australia’s veteran community.

To date, the Kabul airlift is one of the largest humanitarian airlift operations in Australian military history.

The RSM mandate was terminated in early September 2021. With this, Australian service in operations related to the war in Afghanistan soon came to an official end.

While the airlift was still underway, the Taliban had captured Kabul and proceeded to secure the city. They regained complete control of the country.

Legacy and effects of service

Years of war and conflict claimed the lives of some 176,000 people between 2001 and 2021. And the war continues to impact and shape the lives of the people in Afghanistan.

Mines and IEDs across the country threaten the safety of people and hinder agricultural and other economic activity. Afghan people continue to be displaced, separated from their homes, families and communities. Many Afghan nationals have been forced to flee their country as refugees.

According to the UN, women and girls made up about 80% of those displaced as of 2021. Those who remain in Afghanistan are excluded ‘from shaping their own futures and that of their country.’ The Taliban have restricted their basic rights and fundamental freedoms. Despite this, Afghan women and girls continue to navigate and resist the tightening constraints.

For many Australian and coalition personnel, the conflict in Afghanistan did not end after their deployment. Many returned for multiple rotations. Some sustained physical and psychological injuries or operations, including amputations, loss of sight, paralysis and traumatic brain injuries. These and other injuries often had immediate and long-term effects on those who served.

Harmful incidents can have ongoing impacts on people who were part of them or witnessed them. Many veterans have acknowledged the support from fellow veterans, family and friends.

Veterans of the war in Afghanistan have helped draw attention to the possible consequences of service across all time periods and personal circumstances.

Studies and reports, including the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, highlight the importance of supporting veterans. They emphasise mental health and wellbeing, as well as physical health. Not all veterans experience or live with long-term physical and psychological effects of service.

Australia’s history in Afghanistan is still being shaped. Experiences and perspectives of those directly connected to the conflict continue to inform how the broader public understands it. Reflections on service have prompted wider conversations about Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan.

In March 2016, a formal inquiry was launched into allegations of misconduct and possible crimes. The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report (the ‘Brereton Report’) was released in 2020.

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) is investigating incidents raised in the Brereton Report.

Commemorating their service

More than 35,000 ADF personnel, alongside Australians from other government bodies and NGOs, served in operations to support Afghanistan. We remember their service and sacrifices and the support of their families.

Service medals

Personnel who meet the criteria may be eligible for one or more of the following medals:

• Australian Active Service Medal with ICAT clasp
• Afghanistan Medal
• Australian Operational Service Medal – Greater Middle East Operation
• NATO Medal with ISAF clasp or Afghanistan clasp
• United Nations Special Service Medal.

The NATO and UN medals are among the many foreign honours and awards Australians may accept and wear.
Some courageous actions were formally recognised with awards such as the Victoria Cross for Australia and the Medal for Gallantry.

Four Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the war in Afghanistan:

• Trooper Mark Donaldson VC
• Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG
• Corporal Daniel Keighran, VC
• Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG.

National remembrance

Many Australians have lost their lives as a result of service operations related to the war in Afghanistan. This includes the 47 ADF personnel named on the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour.

Memorials continue to be built around the country to honour those who served in Afghanistan and the wider MEAO. One example is Brisbane's 42 for 42 Afghanistan War Memorial Garden. It was designed to honour the veterans who died in Afghanistan.

On 25 April each year, we observe Anzac Day. Australians come together to honour those who served in all wars, conflicts and peace operations, and all who serve in the ADF.

On 11 November, we observe Remembrance Day to honour Australians who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.

On 11 October 2026, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) will hold a national commemoration to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan 2001–2021. The service will be held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and broadcast nationally. Register your interest in attending.

Also in 2026, DVA posted a 25th anniversary poster to schools, ex-service organisations and community groups around Australia.

Australian service personnel Tim Aplin, Ben Chuck and Scott Palmer were killed in 2010 while serving in Afghanistan. In 2021, Scott's father, Ray Palmer – also a veteran – reflected on the sacrifices of Scott and all those who have died in the service of Australia.