Junior Sergeant Rezo Beridze succumbed to his wounds sustained in an attack “by Taliban during patrolling” an unspecified area in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, the Georgian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Wednesday evening.

The latest death brings to ten the total number of Georgian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, since joining the NATO-led operation in November, 2009.

MoD said that the body of Junior Sergeant Beridze had been brought to Georgia.

The brief statement by the MoD does not provide other details – a usual practice when the ministry is reporting about fatalities among the Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan. These statements express condolence to the families and pledge that “the family of soldier will receive the social assistance defined by the Georgian legislation.”

MoD released the statement after the Batumi-based newspaper, Batumelebi, reported earlier on August 31 about the death of 35-year-old Junior Sergeant Beridze, who was native of Keda district in Adjara Autonomous Republic. According to that report the Georgian soldier’s body was brought to Georgia on August 27.

33rd battalion of the 3rd infantry brigade is currently serving in the Helmand province. The battalion rotated the 32nd battalion in Helmand this April.

Georgia currently has about 925 servicemen in Afghanistan; Tbilisi has pledged to send an additional battalion next year, which will make Georgia the largest non-NATO contributor to ISAF operations.