Spanish Army closes 14-year chapter on Afghanistan mission, the most tragic in its military history
Wednesday, October 28, 2015 @ 10:26 AM
SPANISH Armed Forces are finally about to leave Afghanistan for good, after 14 years, a cost of €3.7 billion to the State, and 100 deaths – 96 soldiers, two Guardia Civil officers and two interpreters.
The west Asian mission has been the most tragic in Spain's military history, far worse than its second-most dangerous in Bosnia-Herzegovina where 23 soldiers lost their lives, and has been the only one so far where Spanish troops have fallen victim to suicide bombers.
Spain announced its withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago, and the majority of its forces were brought home but a small number remained to continue with the NATO Resolute Support operation, launched at the beginning of this year to replace the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), also a NATO alliance organisation.
ISAF and, now, Resolute Support were set up to give back-up to the Afghan government in the transition to peace and democracy, providing advice, help, training and reinforcement for national security institutions until these were able to take over in full and without international assistance.
NATO forces remain in several regions of Afghanistan, but will soon be limited to the capital, Kabul.
Spain is currently contributing by maintaining its participation in the general NATO headquarters in Kabul and in the province of Herat, but once Resolute Support came into being, Spain handed over the running of its base to Italy after nearly 10 years at the front line.
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