Australian Army working dog Quake killed by IED

An Australian military working dog was killed in action in Afghanistan on 25th June 2012 during an operation to destroy an insurgent bomb training and manufacturing facility. 

4-year-old Quake was on his second tour of Afghanistan when he was killed by small-arms fire during an engagement with insurgents.

Italian soldier Manuele Braj killed by grenade

30-year-old Italian Police Officer Manuele Braj, from the 13th Regiment serving in Afghanistan with the Police Specialty Training Team (PSTT) was killed on 25th June 2012 when an observation post was blown up by a grenade.

The incident happened at Adraskan in western Afghanistan. Two Italian soldiers were injured in the blast. Manuele Braj, who was married with an eight-month-old baby, died instantly.

The incident is under investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan

24-year-old French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

Sergeant Marcillan joined the French Army in October 2007. In 2009 he was based in New Caledonia and in September that year, deployed to Kosovo as part of a Liaison and Intelligence unit.

Newly promoted in October 2010, he was assigned to the Logistics group as a fire-control officer. He further volunteered for 2 Intelligence Brigade. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2012.

French Army Sergeant Pierre-Olivier Lumineau

26-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef Pierre-Olivier Lumineau, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He attended the French Military's National School of NCOs from May 2010. He was appointed Sergeant in September that year. In December, he was posted to 2 Intelligence Brigade based at Suippes.

He deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year as part of a Tactical Operations Team (ETOMI) based in Kapisa.

French Army Sergeant-chef Stéphane Prudhom

32-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef (Chief Warrant) Stéphane Prudhom, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

Chief Warrant Prudhom was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He joined the French Army in November 1999 and served with the 2nd Hussars as a scout for four years. In June 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2009, he joined the 40th Artillery Regiment

During his service, he deployed on six overseas operations: The former Yugoslavia in 2000, Kosovo in 2002 and 2006, Côte d'Ivoire in 2005, Afghanistan in 2006 and Chad in 2008. He deployed on the current mission to Afghanistan in March 2012.

He held the Gold Medal of National Defence, the Medal with Overseas clip "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire" and the French Commemorative Medal with clasps "Former Yugoslavia" and "Afghanistan."

He was the father of two children aged 3 and 1 years old.

French Army CWO Thierry Serrat killed by suicide bomber

46-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Thierry Serrat was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

CWO Serrat was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

CWO Serrat had 28 years of service with the French Army. In 1985 he was promoted to Sergeant and joined the 51st Regiment of Artillery. He was promoted to CWO in December 1990. In 1993 he joined the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment.

During his long career, CWO Serrat served in New Caledonia (1995), Reunion (2000), Côte d'Ivoire (2002), Afghanistan (2008 and 2010) and Lebanon (2009) where he was commended for his exemplary operational behavior. He deployed to Afghanistan on this tour in June this year as part of Operation PAMIR heading a CIMIC (civil-military) team in Kapisa. Team "CIMIC" (civil-military) in Kapisa, Major Thierry Serrat was killed and three

He leaves behind his wife and two children aged 18 and 20 years. CWO Serrat was declared "killed in action."

French soldiers killed by suicide bomber in Afghanistan

A Taliban suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa killed four French soldiers In Afghanistan today, 9th June 2012. 

French forces were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives, said Qais Qadri, a provincial government spokesman. 

France's defence ministry confirmed the four soldiers were French, and said another five French troops were wounded in the blast. 

The four killed were named as: 

Chief Warrant Officer Thierry Serrat (Armed Forces Civil-Military Actions Group - GIACM) 

Sergeant Stéphane Prudhom (2nd Hussars) 

Sergeant Pierre-Olivier Lumineau (40th Artillery Regiment) 

Brigadier (Lance-Corporal) Yoann Marcillan (40th Artillery Regiment)

US Military fatalities - May 2012

The following is a list of known United States Military fatalities in Afghanistan - May 2012:

Date	Name	Rank	Age	Unit
MAY
31-May	Povilaitis, Alexander G.	Staff Sgt.	47	14th Engineer Btn, 555th Engineer Brigade
30-May	Olivas, Nicholas H.	Corporal	20	4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
30-May	Witsman, Joshua E.	L-Cpl	23	2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
30-May	Brazas, Sean E.	PO2	30	Naval Base Kitsap Security Detachment
28-May	Chase, Julian C.	Sergeant	22	5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, USMC
28-May	Brainard, John R.	Captain	26	12th Combat Aviation Brigade
28-May	Pratt, John C.	CWO	51	12th Combat Aviation Brigade
27-May	Jacobs, Kedith L.	Spc.	21	2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment
27-May	Deronde III, Leroy	Pfc.	22	2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment
27-May	Tautolo, Tofiga J.	Spc.	23	3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment
26-May	Sutton, Steven G.	L-Cpl	24	1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
26-May	Vilmar Galarza Hernandez	Spc.	21	23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade
26-May	Warren, Eric D.	Medic		1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
25-May	Loeza, Roberto	Staff Sgt.	28	1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment
24-May	Coffey, Keaton G.	Corporal	22	1st Law Enforcement Battalion, USMC
24-May	Miller, Cale C.	Pfc.	23	23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade
23-May	Morgado, Travis A.	2Lt	25	20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade
21-May	Fields, Arronn D.	Spc.	27	81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard
20-May	Wilson, Ryan J.	PO1	26	US Naval Forces Central Command, Bahrain
20-May	Ozbat, Jesse A.	Captain	28	168th Brigade Support Btn, 214th Fires Brigade
20-May	Alexander, Tobias C.	2Lt	30	168th Brigade Support Btn, 214th Fires Brigade
19-May	Watts, Samuel T.	Spc.	20	1st Btn, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
18-May	Knox, Jabraun S.	Sergeant	23	1st Btn (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Rgt.
18-May	Knapp, Mike J.	Sergeant	28	1st Btn (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Rgt.
13-May	Walker, Brian L.	Sergeant	25	425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
13-May	McNulty III, Richard L.	Pfc.	22	425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
12-May	Nuanes, Israel P.	Staff Sgt.	38	741st Ordnance Coy, 84th Ordnance Btn.
12-May	Hernandez III, Alex	Spc.	21	3rd Btn, 25th Aviation Regiment
12-May	Velasquez, Jorge Luis	PO2	35	US Navy
11-May	Thompson, Alejo R.	1Lt	30	1st Btn, 12th Infantry Regiment
11-May	Wilson, Wade D.	Sergeant	22	2nd Btn, 5th Marine Regiment
7-May	Schwallie, Jacob M.	Sergeant	22	3rd Sqn, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
7-May	Marta, Chase S.	Spc.	24	3rd Sqn, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
7-May	Gross, Dustin D.	Pfc.	19	3rd Sqn, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
6-May	Huling, John P.	Sergeant	25	7th Engineer Support Btn, 1st Marine Logistics
6-May	Fogarty, Thomas K.	Staff Sgt.	30	3rd Btn (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment
4-May	Childs, Gregory L.	Master Sgt.	38	Defense Logistics Agency
3-May	Hargrove, Zachary H.	Staff Sgt.	32	84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal
2-May	Rylander, David E.	2Lt	23	7th Engineer Btn, 10th Mountain Division
2-May	Cochilus, Junot M. L.	Spc.	34	7th Engineer Btn, 10th Mountain Division
1-May	Clark, Bruce K.	Captain	43	William Beaumont Army Medical Center