Georgian military help make Afghanistan safer

Georgian soldiers are helping to make war-torn Afghanistan a safer place to live and work after completing a military operation aiming to reduce the possibility of organised attacks by rebels.

More than 100 Georgian soldiers and 14 US military servicemen conducted a clearing operation in the village of North Muhamabad in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province in the framework of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The goal of the mission, dubbed ‘Griffon III’ was to suppress possible organised attacks from the opposition.

The 12-hour operation was commanded by Georgian Armed Forces Captain Zaza Gorgodze.

The soldiers, serving in the Alfa Unit of the 31st Battalion of the Georgian Armed Forces, isolated the village with support of the US military and prevented the enemy from leaving the village, from carrying lethal materials as they tried to flee and prevented them from gaining support from other resistance.

 After isolating the village, the Georgian soldiers held a ‘Shura’ (the Arabic word for ‘consultation’) with the local population and discussed the existing problems, security issues and future cooperation between the parties. Photo by mod.gov.ge

The Georgian Armed Forces provided first aid to injured and sick villagers and offered presents. Once the Griffon III mission was successfully completed, the military servicemen returned to camp Leatherneck. Photo by mod.gov.ge

Griffon III is part of a series of operations aimed at gaining full control of the area of operations.

Preparation, planning and implementation of the operation received high praise from the US side.