7 Georgian soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan

Seven Georgian soldiers serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have been killed in a bomb attack on their base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand.

The incident took place in the Nawzad district on Thursday when a bomber detonated an explosives-laden truck outside the military base.

According to Georgia’s army chief General Irakli Dzneladze, at least nine other soldiers were also wounded in the bombing.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming to have killed as many as twenty foreign soldiers.

Following the attack, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili issued a statement, offering his “deepest condolences… to all of Georgia.”

On May 13, three Georgian soldiers were killed in a similar attack in the Musa Qala district of the province.

Twenty-seven Georgian troops have been killed since 2004, when they joined the US-led forces in Afghanistan.

With around 1,570 troops in Helmand, Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the ISAF, the Georgian Defense Ministry says.

According to the website icasualties.org, 3,330 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led war began in 2001.

The increasing number of military casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger in the US and other NATO member states, undermining public support for the Afghan war.

The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across Afghanistan, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.