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CANBERRA - Two Australian soldiers have been injured by a roadside bomb while on patrol in southern Iraq, defence says.
Two Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAVs) were patrolling Dhi Qar province, north of An Nasariyah, at about 6.30pm local time yesterday when an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated as they passed.
The two wounded soldiers were in the first ASLAV, which was seriously damaged in the blast and destroyed by a subsequent fire.
One soldier received lower leg injuries while the other suffered less serious wounds.
The second ASLAV was damaged and could not be moved, defence spokesman Brigadier Gus Gilmore said.
Brigadier Gilmore said the soldiers' injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
"The is not the first time an attempted IED attack against Australians has occurred, indeed our people in Iraq and Afghanistan face these types of threats on a regular basis," Brigadier Gilmore told reporters in Canberra.
The soldiers were evacuated to the US hospital at the Tallil air base and may be moved to Baghdad for further treatment, defence said.
- AAP
