Georgian soldiers return home from Afghanistan
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The first wave of Georgian soldiers serving in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan have returned home to Georgia after being seven months abroad.
About 300 soldiers touched down in Alekseevka Airport today and were greeted by the Georgian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Stuff, Colonel Roman Jokhadze.
Commander of the Western Operations Group of Land Forces Colonel Besik Gopodze and Commander of the III Infantry Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Malkhaz Merlani were also presented when the soldiers landed on home soil.
The soldiers were part of the 31st Battalion of the III Infantry Brigade and successfully completed their duties for the past seven months within the scope of the ISAF mission, the Ministry of Defence said.
In Afghanistan, the Georgian soldiers performed a variety of operations in Afghanistan, in the Helmand province, with the support of the United States Marines. Their main task was to arrange a security patrol and mobile control posts in order to ensure the local populations’ security.
The complete 31st Battalion will return home gradually until all Battalion members are home. All soldiers are expected to be home by the end of the month.
The 31st Battalion have been replaced by Georgian soldiers of the 23rd Battalion of the II Infantry Brigade. This crew will serve in Afghanistan for six months.
The last group of 150 military personnel of the 31st Battalion of the Third Infantry Brigade returned home this morning after spending seven months in Afghanistan on a peacekeeping mission.
The first group of soldiers serving in the Special Mountain Battalion of the Georgian Armed Forces has returned home from Afghanistan without suffering any casualties.