Temur Iakobashvili: Georgian army not retreating -- forces regrouping

Темур Якобашвили: Грузинская армия не отступает - идет перегруппировка сил

Georgia is regrouping its forces and does not intend to retreat from the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, stated Temur Iakobashvili, State Minister for Reintegration. "The Georgian army has not and will not retreat from the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone," he noted.

According to Iakobashvili, the Georgian army has completed three phases. "The fourth has now come. Russia has thrown all of its forces, who were massed around the Roki Tunnel, into the battle zone. We don't intend to bury our own soldiers, so we're regrouping in order to prevent the Russian army from advancing. We're ready for the resistance," stated Iakobashvili.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Defense of Georgia confirmed the loss of Tskhinvali from its control and the retreat of its forces to Gori where Georgian reservists are concentrated.

Georgian forces invaded South Ossetia after a lengthy artillery bombardment campaign, which came from large-caliber artillery and "Grad" rocket artillery systems among other ordinances. Georgian tanks and infantry entered the Georgian capital. In two days, according to some sources, up to 2 thousand South Ossetian civilians were killed. There are also casualties among the Russian peacekeeping forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, who came under fire despite an international peacekeeping mandate. The leadership of Russia has made the decision to conduct an operation to enforce peace in the conflict zone as it is the responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers to liberate the entire zone.

IA Regnum