Tonga's third contingent of 55 soldiers returned safely to Tonga after six-months duty in Afghanistan and were greeted by happy families at the Fua'amotu International Airport, on May 25.

The contingent led by Lt Col Tongapo'uli Aleamotu'a arrived on a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, this afternoon.

A spokesperson from the TDS Sene headquarter told Matangi Tonga, that the third contingent of 55 soldiers had completed a successful deployment to Afghanistan, where they carried out base security at the British Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan.

The third contingent handed over duties to Tonga's fourth contingent of 55 marines deployed to Afghanistan this month, and led by Commander Solomone Savelio who underwent eight weeks pre-deployment training in the United Kingdom.