TIRANA, March 10 – Two Albanian army units left for Afghanistan and Iraq on Monday to replace other Albanians as part of a six-month mission.
A ceremony at the Mother Teresa international airport was attended by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu, U.S. Ambassador to Tirana John L. Withers and other top officials.
Albania’s Iraqi unit is made up of 120 troops while 22 troops were heading to Afghanistan. “This is a mission making every Albanian proud. It is a mission to preserve peace and protect the largest values of freedom in these two friendly nations,” said Berisha.
Albania also has another military unit in Bosnia. It has offered to send other peacekeeping units to Africa or Lebanon, if asked. These deployments are part of the country’s efforts to convince the northern alliance it deserves NATO membership. Albania hopes to receive a NATO membership invitation at the Bucharest summit next month.(Tirana Times Staff)
Albanian units leave for Afghanistan, Iraq
Change font size:
Latest from News
Opposition Calls for Rama’s Resignation Over Corruption
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana protest unfolds amid EU concerns over shrinking parliamentary oversight. TIRANA, May 08, 2026 — Albania’s opposition staged a national protest in Tirana on Friday evening,
Dirty Money in the Skyline: Albania’s Tower Boom and the Laundering of Criminal Wealth
Change font size: - + Reset From towers to “new pyramids”: how money from organized crime, international drug trafficking and entrenched corruption is reshaping Tirana while leaving behind empty buildings, distorted prices
Albania’s EU bid faces IBAR delay
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Albania’s path toward European Union membership has entered a more uncertain phase as discussions over a key assessment report remain
Albania Slips Into Electoral Autocracy
Change font size: - + Reset V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group.
Albania Draws a Red Line on Iran
Change font size: - + Reset Parliament’s decision to label Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism formalizes a break years in the making and reflects a broad Albanian consensus that Iran has