Georgian official said South Ossetia had fired on Georgian villages first . Officials of the breakaway Georgian region said the shelling was part of a Georgian military operation , Interfax reported . Women , children , elderly being evacuated from the conflict zone . The attack by Russian - backed separatist forces in South Ossetia .
Georgian official said South Ossetia had fired on Georgian villages first . Women , children , elderly being evacuated from the conflict zone . The attack by Russian - backed separatist forces in South Ossetia .