GEORGIA CONFLICT 2008

GEORGIA CONFLICT 2008

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AUGUST 1-7, 2008
On August 1, 2008 intense fighting broke out between Georgian troops and South Ossetia troops. Georgia claimed that the South Ossetians had shelled Georgian villages, a claim South Ossetia denied. But that shelling provoked the conflict. On August 5, Russian ambassador Yuri Popov warned that Russia would intervene if the conflict continued. Thereafter, early on August 7, 2008, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered Georgian troops to cease-fire.

But the fragil cease fire did not hold. Soon after it was signed Georgian officials claimed that South Ossetians were again shelling Georgian villages. Again the South Ossetians denied any responsibility, even though the shelling occurred.

That night, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeared on national television in Georgia and vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over what he called the "criminal regime" in South Ossetia and reinforce order after the shelling of Georgian villages in violation of the cease fire.

The result was a large, intense Georgian offensive driving towards and through the South Ossetian capitol of Tskhinvali. The Georgians emploed tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry, along with their small air force to accomplish this. Fighting was fierce, particularly in and around the South Ossetian capital.

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