08/10/2007
More UK Forces To Quit Iraq In 2008
A further 2,000 UK troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq in the New Year.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced to the House of Commons that the numbers of British forces serving in the area would fall to a total of 2,500 by next spring - less than half the current levels.
He said this follows continuing intensive training and mentoring for the Iraqi security forces by the British military.
The Prime Minister’s latest move comes after an earlier pledge to pull out 1,000 soldiers from the country by Christmas, thus reducing the existing 5,500 serving troops to 4,500 within the next 12 weeks.
This initial development was originally made public by the PM during an earlier high profile trip to Iraq, visiting troops based in the area around Basra and Baghad.
(BMcC)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced to the House of Commons that the numbers of British forces serving in the area would fall to a total of 2,500 by next spring - less than half the current levels.
He said this follows continuing intensive training and mentoring for the Iraqi security forces by the British military.
The Prime Minister’s latest move comes after an earlier pledge to pull out 1,000 soldiers from the country by Christmas, thus reducing the existing 5,500 serving troops to 4,500 within the next 12 weeks.
This initial development was originally made public by the PM during an earlier high profile trip to Iraq, visiting troops based in the area around Basra and Baghad.
(BMcC)
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31 March 2009
Britain Hands Basra Over To US Troops
British troops have begun their official withdraw from Iraq today as Basra was formally handed to the US army. In a handover ceremony, attended by the head of Britain's armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and US General Ray Odierno, a British military pennant was symbolically raised and lowered over the southern Iraq town.
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British troops have begun their official withdraw from Iraq today as Basra was formally handed to the US army. In a handover ceremony, attended by the head of Britain's armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and US General Ray Odierno, a British military pennant was symbolically raised and lowered over the southern Iraq town.
13 October 2008
Iraqi PM Says 'British Troops No Longer Required'
British troops are no longer required to provide security in southern Iraq, the country's Prime Minister has told a British newspaper. Speaking to The Times, Nouri al-Maliki said there still may be a need for their experience in training Iraqi forces and other technical issues, but not as a "fighting" force.
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