Georgian involvement in the Iraq War
Georgian involvement in the Iraq War | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Al Shaheen, Iraq, in March 2007. | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Georgia | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
70 (2003)300(2004)850 (2005)2,300 (2008) | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3 killed 19+ wounded |
Georgia joined the Iraq war as part of the
Deployment history
Georgia strongly supported the U.S.-led entrance
Georgia's initial deployment was a platoon of special forces and a medical team, a total of 70 personnel in 2003.[4] The Georgian presence in Iraq increased to 300 personnel in 2004[5] and to 850 in 2005,[6] and peaked at 2,300 soldiers in mid-2008. The largest contingents deployed were the 3rd Infantry Brigade (July 2007 – January 2008) and the 1st Infantry Brigade (January–August 2008).[7][8] In addition to participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, from 2005 to 2008 Georgia also contributed a battalion of approximately 550 troops to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, which was stationed in Baghdad within the "Green Zone".[1]
At first, the Georgian troops deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom were stationed in Baghdad and provided general security measures. Beginning in 2007, the Georgians were deployed along the border with Iran, with their main base at Kut, and tasked to interdict smuggled weapons, goods, and drugs. The Georgian units worked primarily within the U.S. area of operations. In total, more than 6,000 Georgian soldiers served in Iraq on the basis of six-month rotations; the service in Iraq was voluntary.[1]
During the Russia–Georgia war in August 2008, Georgia recalled all of its forces from Iraq. The
Casualties
In total, Georgia suffered three combat fatalities (all in 2008) and at least 19 servicemen were injured in Iraq. In addition, one Georgian serviceman died in a car accident and one committed suicide, both in 2007.[10][11]
See also
- Role of Georgia in the War in Afghanistan (2001–14)
- Georgian Kosovo contingent
References
- ^ ISBN 9781851099481.
- ^ Liklikadze, Koba (September 10, 2007). "Iraq: As Third-Largest Contingent, Georgia Hopes To Show Its Worth". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Timeline – 2003". Civil Georgia. December 31, 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-300-36039-1.
- ^ "Timeline – 2004". Civil Georgia. January 3, 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Timeline – 2005". Civil Georgia. December 31, 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Timeline – 2007". Civil Georgia. May 20, 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Georgia Extends Troop Deployment in Iraq". Civil Georgia. March 21, 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ Hoffman, Michael (August 11, 2008). "U.S. takes Georgian troops home from Iraq". Army Times. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Georgian Soldier Killed, Another Wounded in Afghanistan". Civil Georgia. September 5, 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Military Deaths by Country: Georgia". Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. iCasualties.org. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2013.