In light of the growing controversy over civilian casualties from air strikes — and in the face of continued Taliban assaults — the Australian army is shipping heavier weapons to its reconstruction team 
in Uruzgan, Afghanistan, Ares reports:
Mortars can be more accurate than airstrikes and quite devastating to a lightly protected enemy. Case in point: during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, one mortar platoon from the 3rd Infantry Division chalked up more than 500 kills.
But mortars aren’t without risks. During fighting in Uruzgan in June, a prematurely exploding shell killed a Dutch mortar sergeant while he was firing watching a mortar team firing on Taliban attackers. (Dutch mortar team pictured, photo by Hans De Vreij, Radio Netherlands Worldwide.)
Related: Dutch to quit Uruzgan Where were the Aussies during Afghan fight? Aussies’ weapons of choice Afghan air strikes imprecise
